Fires are continuing to rage across the Australian state of Victoria. Extreme conditions have made the firefighters’ task even more difficult as they battle to bring the flames under control.
The death toll in the Victorian bushfire crisis is expected to rise above 200 in the next day or so as more bodies are discovered. It is the worst ‘natural’ disaster in Australia’s history. It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that the fires which are causing untold death and destruction were deliberately lit.
There are still over twenty fires across the area with some towns completely wiped out and others still under threat.
Strathewen, with a population of only 200 people before the bushfires, had lost 30 residents in the last official count.
It’s hard to know what to do in a time like this but it seems to be a very natural thing to want to offer some kind of support to those in need.
At 98.5 Sonshine FM we’re encouraging listeners to do whatever they can to help the survivors of the tragedy.
We’ve placed a number of links on the Sonshine FM website to allow people to make a secure online donation to the organisation of their choice.
There’s also opportunity to post a prayer or a few thoughts for others to read online.
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Rodney: We’re praying for your country. I’ve reposted your post on Pilgrim Scribblings, encouraging our readers to pray.
Be encouraged, dear brother!
David
New outbreaks just announced.
Heartbreaking and horror news everywhere we turn.
It’s hard to get our heads around the sheer magnitude of the destruction.
That is horrendous…my heart goes out to your countrymen.
Rodney, there are other needs too. Many country towns are now losing out on their normal tourism traffic because of fear and partly through ignorance too. People assume towns are destroyed – I heard today how some are cancelling their accommodation in places like Beechworth for June. June? That’s months away and winter time. And Beechworth has not been burnt out or destroyed – despite there being a fire named the Beechworth fire.
I want to help highlight the need for tourism to continue in Victoria otherwise many other towns not affected directly by the fire, will become indirect victims all the same.