Monday, February 9, 2009

Bushfire in Australia


"bushfire", photo taken from the news report






i was hoping to watch the movie "Australia" starring the Aussies Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and probably enjoy the sight of the "outback" and kangaroo in the cinema during the weekend but my health concerns required me to stay home instead. so i just relaxed and wished that i would be able to join crowds, go to the mall, and hope that i can watch the movie soon.










earlier, it's my mom's turn to see her doctor after her most recent hospitalisation and i had the chance to surf the net no matter how challenging could it be. i wanted to try opening my email account, which might work out this time, but my attention was turned to the news headlines and i found it terribly devastating to read about the tremendous loss of lives, and properties in my dear state of Victorian where its people have been kind and friendly. while it has been cold winters on other parts of the world, its summer down under and i heard that temperature rose to 46 degrees Celcius in Melbourne (when 40 degrees Celcius in Sydney has been extremely warm enough when i celebrated the new year's day with Sydney based friends not too long ago).












accordingly, the official toll rose to 131 according to the police and part of the report says: "The death toll surpasses that from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia , and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71." (http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5307913/vic-bushfires-death-toll-107-police/, http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5306498/25-killed-victorian-bushfires/, http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5308391/rescuers-brace-bushfire-horror/)










part of the reports said:"By 8.30pm (AEDT), at least 750 homes had been destroyed, more than 330,000 hectares burnt out - 220,000 ha alone in the Kinglake Complex wildfire - while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.










sometime ago, i did a case study about these bushfires on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but the things i learned from lots of readings in relation to bushfires has not really prepared me to deal with this current bushfire, i felt very sad. while my heart goes to the Aussies affected by this tragic incident, i wish that the devastation would be contained and would end sooner than expected.








in addition to prayers, Victorian victims also needs material help- badly. i have seen this attachment in the news report, although Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned about possible fraud in receiving donations, i hope that this is the legitimate link as provided in the news report :

[Victorian Bushfire Appeal: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5307609/victorian-bushfire-appeal how to donate]


No comments: