Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said authorities had confirmed 35 deaths just in the fringes of the affected areas. He warned the final toll would likely be "a lot more". "We expect the number will climb considerably as the day passes on. The community needs to be prepared for worse news to come at this point in time." Last night he said the death toll "could get into the 40s". Whole towns have been destroyed and thousands of people left homeless with record temperatures and fierce winds sparking devastating infernos.
-- Posted By Breaking News to Break News at 2/08/2009 04:02:00 AM
