VICTORIA ABLAZE: Three Missing People Found Safe as Bushfire Crisis Engulfs State, Razing 115 Structures and 300,000 Hectares of Land
- Three people, initially reported missing, found safe in Benalla after their home was destroyed in the Longwood bushfire
- At least 115 structures, including homes and buildings, reduced to ashes as fires continue to rage across Victoria
- Emergency Management Commissioner warns of further devastation as fire toll expected to climb, with critical infrastructure impacted
In a dramatic turn of events, three people feared missing in the Victorian bushfire crisis have been found safe and well in Benalla, bringing relief to their loved ones and the community. The trio, initially reported as two adults and a child, had not been seen since Thursday when their home in Longwood was destroyed by the raging inferno.
Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed the news, saying, “It’s taken some time for us to fully assure ourselves that those people are now safe and well… in Benalla.” The discovery comes as the bushfire crisis continues to ravage the state, with at least 115 structures, including homes and buildings, reduced to ashes.
The fires have also had a devastating impact on critical infrastructure, with the Bendigo railway line closed due to fire damage. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch warned that the toll is expected to climb, saying, “We’ve also seen impacts to critical infrastructure, in particular the Bendigo railway line that has been impacted by fire and is now closed.”
For CFA first lieutenant Tyrone Rice, the fires have brought personal tragedy. He lost his family home, built in 1984, while assisting with the firefight on Friday. “This is my father’s property originally. He was an orchardist, so it’s been part of our family history,” he told reporters, fighting back tears.
Rice described the fire on Friday as “dynamic” due to the winds, and said, “We tried to make it back there but it was too late.” The veteran firefighter of 60 years has fought his fair share of fires, but this one was different.
As the state remains under a total fire ban, 16 relief centres have been opened across Victoria to support those affected by the disaster. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian Defence Force is providing personnel and infrastructure to support the fire response, saying, “My thoughts are with Australians in these regional communities at this very difficult time.”
Acting leader of the Greens, Sarah Hanson-Young, blamed climate change for the catastrophic fires, saying, “These extreme fires are being fuelled by mining and burning coal and gas, but politicians from both the major parties keep approving new fossil fuel projects because they are on the payroll of coal and gas corporations.”