Victoria
Bushfires are causing complete devastation in Victoria. We woke yesterday morning to the sad news that 25 lives had been lost, over 600 homes and over 300 000 hectares (or maybe acres sorry I can't remember which measurement it was). Fire crews continued to work through yesterday fighting the massive blazes. Police spent the day working through the burnt out shells of homes and cars. By afternoon the death toll was 65, by evening 84 and when we woke this morning 108. This is expected to rise again today as Police continue to search through the ashes. The town of Marysville no longer exists, over 95% of the buildings have been destroyed. Kingslake is similar with whole sections of the town completely wiped out. There are still many blazes burning and many people unaccounted for. There are also large numbers of burn victims in Melbourne hospitals, many of whom are not expected to survive. There are many stories of bravery, near misses, miraculous survival and courage.
New South Wales
There are approximately 50 bushfires burning in New South Wales. There has only been currently one loss of life, a 9 year old child.
Queensland
According to yesterdays newspaper two thirds of Queensland is currently affected by flooding. The town of Ingham has been the hardest hit with much of the town under water. The major highway to north Queensland has been cut for nearly a week. This is stopping all food and supplies getting through. Many western properties have been isolated by floodwater for more than a week and may continue to be so for more than a month. Helicopter food drops have started to these areas. Unfortunately the wet weather is continueing. Inghams flood waters started to drop on Friday but rose again on Saturday. They have started to drop again today but more rain is expected Wednesday or Thursday. Coastal towns were bracing yesterday for a King Tide which would hit - giving you large amounts of flood water trying to get out to sea meeting the ocean trying to get inland. One of the dams was recorded as losing enough water over their spill way everyday to completely fill one of the dams that supplies water to Brisbane everyday. Just massive volumes of water. We have seen many photos on the TV and the water is just moving so fast. They are currently searching for a 5 year old boy believed to be taken by a crocodile and 2 men in their 30's who were washed off the highway.
We would appreciate you joining us in our prayers for these people, those who have lost loved ones and friends, those who have lost everything they own, for the communities whose town no longer exists, for the emergency service workers fighting the fires and those with the grim task of looking for bodies. Especially pray that through this tragedy many may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.