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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2009 17:17:36 GMT
Can anybody explain to me why so many people have died in the Australian bush fires? 93 at last count. Why were people unable to evacuate in time? BBC report
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 8, 2009 18:52:42 GMT
From what little I understand from reading about wildfires in California, it's the sudden shifts in wind and temperature that make fires suddenly jump from one place to another. Also, I imagine many of the victims were people who either stayed to fight the flames or who had not fast way to get out when the fires turned in their direction.
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anonymousfreak
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Post by anonymousfreak on Feb 9, 2009 2:03:28 GMT
By the time they know to leave it's too late. We had 80km winds on Saturday, combined with 46C+ heat and very dry land. We get bushfires every year, but have never had death on this scale. Some people died on the roads trying to get out. A friend of a friend died trying to save some animals.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 9, 2009 4:18:01 GMT
Oh, that is so frightening. What do you all do in those conditions -- just try to keep the area around the house wet? How close to you are the fires currently burning? Please keep posting from time to time if you can, so we'll know you're ok.
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Post by palesa on Feb 9, 2009 4:22:49 GMT
Freak, please do as Bix says and pop in and let is know you are ok.
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Post by spindrift on Feb 9, 2009 9:17:59 GMT
I've just spoken to a friend who lives in the north of New South Wales. He reports that 160 people have died in the fires in Victoria. He says he's in shock.
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 9, 2009 9:44:23 GMT
I have never seen anything like this. Hubby has been listening to Australian radio all afternoon yesterday. It's just terrible !
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anonymousfreak
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Post by anonymousfreak on Feb 9, 2009 9:53:58 GMT
Writeon, the total deaths was 108 this afternoon - although this may double. It was not just the two or three massive fires fronts that was the problem. Loads of spot fires were occuring everywhere. We live in an area dangerous enough that we had to pack our things and consider leaving. Here is the current statewide summary: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_summary.htmWe had an awful and tense weekend. The mr's family out in the yarra valley were also right in the firing line. We assumed that we would be in more danger but in the end it turned out to be them.
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anonymousfreak
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Post by anonymousfreak on Feb 9, 2009 10:26:58 GMT
134 confirmed dead now.
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Post by palesa on Feb 9, 2009 10:39:21 GMT
I am sorry to say, but I have chosen not to read the reports, I would spend my day crying. It is such a tragedy.
For those of you closer, it must be like a bad dream (nightmare) in slow motion that you cannot do much about.
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Post by palesa on Feb 9, 2009 17:17:28 GMT
I just heard on the news that they suspect that these fires were started by arsonists. If that is true, they deserve to rot in hell!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2009 17:34:00 GMT
Do you have major bush fires in South Africa sometimes?
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Post by palesa on Feb 9, 2009 17:37:54 GMT
Mostly in the Western Cape, in the mountains because of the fynbos and the winds that they experience in the Western Cape are rather strong.
There have also been a few in Mpumalanga on pine plantations, but nomally the loss of life in those is minimal.
Luckily, none close to where we live.
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Post by palesa on Feb 9, 2009 18:38:58 GMT
I just read that the fires were sparking new fires 40km away! The fire was at times, as tall as a 4 storey building. How terrifying.
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anonymousfreak
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Post by anonymousfreak on Feb 9, 2009 22:10:11 GMT
yes palesa, it's the embers which can travel a long distance in dry areas that perpetuate the problem. It's 173+ dead now.
Definitely some were started by arsonists. I live in a bushfire prone area and every year we get firebugs.
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Post by mockchoc on Feb 10, 2009 7:44:33 GMT
It really is heartbreaking.
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