Victorian bushfire toll now 181

[Stacey King]

SUNSHINE COAST DAILY ONLINE
5:58a.m. 11th February 2009
By Kerryn Manifold and AAP

Stuart O'Gorman (left) and his parents, Alan and Carolyn, were killed. Also pictured are twins Bronwyn and Patrick who survived.


More than 180 people have been killed in the Victorian bushfires, police say and the state's premier, John Brumby, fears the toll could reach 200.

Figures released by Victorian authorities early this morning put the death toll from the worst fires in living memory at 181.

Mr Brumby said the toll would rise well beyond 200 and the coroner had conceded as much.

Donate to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal

“There’s still a large number of people - in excess of 50 - who are unconfirmed and essentially these are people who the coroner believes are already deceased, but are not yet identified,” he said yesterday afternoon.

“When you see these areas from the air it’s just a sickening feeling, particularly Kinglake and Marysville ... there’s just hundreds and hundreds of houses completely obliterated so the toll will continue to rise.”

Last night, 23 blazes remained out of control, with 10 others contained and dozens more under control.