Australia PM accuses wildfire arsonists of mass murder
Australia's prime minister described arsonists suspected of starting devastating wildfires as mass murderers as the death toll mounted today.
Police declared crime scenes in towns destroyed by Australia's worst-ever wildfires, as investigators moving into the charred landscape discovered hellish scenes and more bodies.
Police confirmed 131 deaths from the fires that tore a destructive path across a vast swathes of southern Victoria state, reducing entire towns to ruins.
Some of the 400-plus fires that raged during the weekend were believed to have been started deliberately.
Prime minister Kevin Rudd, visibly upset during a television interview, reflected national disgust.
"What do you say about anyone like that?" Mr Rudd said. "There's no words to describe it, other than it's mass murder."
At least 750 homes were destroyed. Officials said both the toll of human life and property would almost certainly rise.
While weather conditions have eased since Saturday's inferno, more than one dozen fires still burned in Victoria and gusting winds threatened to fan them towards towns not previously hit. Forecasters said temperatures may rise again later in the week.
Blazes have been burning for weeks in the south-eastern state of Victoria but turned deadly on Saturday when searing temperatures and wind blasts created a firestorm that swept across the region.
A long-running drought in the south - the worst in a century - had left forests extra dry and Saturday's fire conditions were said to be the worst Australia had seen.
From the air, the landscape was blackened as far as the eye could see. Entire forests were reduced to leafless, charred trunks, farmland to ashes. The Victoria Country Fire Service said 850 square miles were burned out.
Only five houses were left standing out of about 40 in one neighbourhood of the hard-hit Kinglake district. Street after street was lined by smouldering wrecks of homes, roofs collapsed inward, iron roof sheets twisted from the heat.
The burned-out hulks of cars dotted roads and a church was smouldering - only one wall with a giant cross etched in it remained standing.
Residents were repeatedly advised on radio and television announcements to initiate their so-called "fire plan" - whether it be staying in their homes to battle the flames or to evacuate before the roads became too dangerous.
But some of the people who died were apparently caught by the fire as they tried to outrun the flames in their cars or were killed when charred tree limbs fell on their vehicles.
Victoria state premier John Brumby said today a royal commission judicial inquiry would be held into the fires.
A royal commission is among the highest-level investigations that can be called under Australian law.
Usually, a former judge is appointed to take extensive evidence and make formal findings that can lead to charges or changes in the law.
