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| Australia fires: Death toll rises as blazes destroy 200 homes | Australia fires: Death toll rises as blazes destroy 200 homes |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Bushfires have killed at least eight people in south-eastern Australia since Monday, while two others remain unaccounted for. | |
| The latest fires, which raced towards the coast this week, have also destroyed more than 200 homes. | The latest fires, which raced towards the coast this week, have also destroyed more than 200 homes. |
| Seven people have been confirmed dead in New South Wales and one in Victoria. | Seven people have been confirmed dead in New South Wales and one in Victoria. |
| Conditions have eased slightly, and a major road that was closed in Victoria was reopened for two hours on Wednesday to allow people to leave. | Conditions have eased slightly, and a major road that was closed in Victoria was reopened for two hours on Wednesday to allow people to leave. |
| But many people remain in fire-hit areas. In one town, police dropped off 1.6 tonnes of drinking water by boat. | |
| The seven deaths in New South Wales include: | The seven deaths in New South Wales include: |
| Family members of Mick Roberts, a 67-year-old Victorian missing since Monday, confirmed that he had been found dead in his home in Buchan, East Gippsland. | Family members of Mick Roberts, a 67-year-old Victorian missing since Monday, confirmed that he had been found dead in his home in Buchan, East Gippsland. |
| "Very sad day for us to (start) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick," his niece Leah Parson said on Facebook. | "Very sad day for us to (start) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick," his niece Leah Parson said on Facebook. |
| The deaths bring the total fire-related fatalities across Australia this season to at least 18, with warnings this could rise further. | The deaths bring the total fire-related fatalities across Australia this season to at least 18, with warnings this could rise further. |
| Of the homes destroyed in this week's blazes, 43 were in East Gippsland, Victoria, while another 176 were in New South Wales. | Of the homes destroyed in this week's blazes, 43 were in East Gippsland, Victoria, while another 176 were in New South Wales. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said 916 homes had been destroyed this season, with another 363 damaged, and 8,159 saved. | Earlier on Wednesday, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said 916 homes had been destroyed this season, with another 363 damaged, and 8,159 saved. |
| In Mallacoota, Victoria - where thousands fled to the beach on Tuesday - police boats arrived with 1.6 tonnes of water for residents. | In Mallacoota, Victoria - where thousands fled to the beach on Tuesday - police boats arrived with 1.6 tonnes of water for residents. |
| They also brought food, a paramedic and medical supplies. | They also brought food, a paramedic and medical supplies. |
| At the same time, police warned people in Sunbury, Victoria - about 40km (25 miles) north-west of Melbourne - to leave the area, as an emergency fire warning was in place. | |
| The smoke from Wednesday's fires was visible more than 2,000km (1,200 miles) away from the South Island of New Zealand, where the haze tinted the sky orange. | |
| Earlier, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said workers would take advantage of the milder weather on Wednesday to clear roads and restore power. | Earlier, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said workers would take advantage of the milder weather on Wednesday to clear roads and restore power. |
| But she said temperatures were expected to rise again on Saturday. | But she said temperatures were expected to rise again on Saturday. |
| "At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," she said. | "At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," she said. |
| The New South Wales fire service has warned of dangerous conditions for tourists on the south coast of NSW over the weekend, telling them to leave before Saturday. | |
| Temperatures are expected to reach the 40Cs in the south-east into the weekend, exacerbating already dangerous conditions in fire-ravaged Victoria and New South Wales. | |
| Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. | |
| The fire service warned they had been unable to reach some people in remote areas of NSW. | |
| "We've got reports of injuries and burn injuries to members of the public," said New South Wales rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. | "We've got reports of injuries and burn injuries to members of the public," said New South Wales rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. |
| "We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft - it's been socked in [runways have been closed] or too dangerous." | "We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft - it's been socked in [runways have been closed] or too dangerous." |
| In Mallacoota, many people spent the night sleeping in their cars or on deckchairs. | |
| Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp said - as well as the police vessels - "a large barge" was sailing from Melbourne to the town with food, water and 30,000 litres of fuel. | Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp said - as well as the police vessels - "a large barge" was sailing from Melbourne to the town with food, water and 30,000 litres of fuel. |
| In Cann River, a town about 80km (50 miles) inland from Mallacoota, residents warned that food supplies were running low. | |
| Further north in Ulladulla, New South Wales, people were queuing outside supermarkets - while cuts to mobile networks and landlines meant people also waited to use payphones. | Further north in Ulladulla, New South Wales, people were queuing outside supermarkets - while cuts to mobile networks and landlines meant people also waited to use payphones. |
| The military said amphibious ships were setting off from Sydney and would arrive in fire-hit coastal areas of New South Wales and Victoria by Friday. | The military said amphibious ships were setting off from Sydney and would arrive in fire-hit coastal areas of New South Wales and Victoria by Friday. |
| Meanwhile, a woman from Mallacoota who took a photo that went viral has spoken about the image. | Meanwhile, a woman from Mallacoota who took a photo that went viral has spoken about the image. |
| Allison Marion took the picture of her 11-year-old son, Finn, moving their family to safety in a powerboat. | Allison Marion took the picture of her 11-year-old son, Finn, moving their family to safety in a powerboat. |
| "Finn drove the boat and my other son looked after the dog in the boat and [I am] very proud of both of them," she told ABC News. | "Finn drove the boat and my other son looked after the dog in the boat and [I am] very proud of both of them," she told ABC News. |
| When the family returned to land, as conditions eased, they went to check on their home. | When the family returned to land, as conditions eased, they went to check on their home. |
| "Our street somehow escaped the fire somehow," she said. "However, I feel for many people in our community who have lost their homes. It's just truly saddening." | "Our street somehow escaped the fire somehow," she said. "However, I feel for many people in our community who have lost their homes. It's just truly saddening." |