Twenty-five people are confirmed dead in Victoria's bushfires and the toll is expected to rise as into the 40s today as firefighters continue to battle the devastating blazes which have ripped through the state's country areas.
Six people are known to have lost their lives at Kinglake, four at Wandong, three at Strathewen and one at Clonbinane, north of Melbourne. The locations of the other fatalities are not known at this stage. Anyone needing help in the fire zone can call the SES on 132 500.
This morning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the fires had caused "an appalling loss of life and property" and said the Defence Force was available to help if requested. Mr Rudd will head to Melbourne today to assess the situation.
Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the death toll from the bushfires was "shocking".
A number of the injured from Victoria's fires were taken to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital overnight.
Eighteen people have been admitted so far; seven with burns to more than 30 per cent of their body. Hospital authorities say three patients are critically injured and they are expecting many more burns victims to be brought in today.
Victoria's deputy commissioner of Police Kieran Walshe fears more people have been killed at Kinglake.
"I have concerns there may be more located there, we know there's been a very serious fire at Kilmore, around Kilmore and Wandong, I have concerns there.
"This has been an absolute tragedy for the state and we believe this figure may only get worse," he added. "We're concerned this figure could even reach up into the 40s."
Unconfirmed reports say a number of people have died in the Gippsland fires trying to drive from their homes.
Gippsland police are pleading with people not to drive in the areas affected by the fires.
Changing weather conditions are making fire direction and behaviour unpredictable and many local roads are cut. Visibility is poor and some roads have been blocked by fallen trees.
More than 100 homes have been lost, including 50 in Bendigo and 30 at Wandong.
Fire crews and police will try to reach the worst hit areas this morning to work out the true extent of the damage. Major livestock losses are also expected.
About 14,000 homes are without power in parts of Victoria affected by the fires.
Eight teams of New South Wales firefighters are on their way to Victoria to help fight the fires.
Residents with information on the fires can contact ABC Local Radio in Melbourne by SMS on 19 774 774.
Eye-witness accounts
Residents of some of the worst-hit towns have described scenes of complete devastation as huge walls of flame ripped through their homes.
Raylene Kincaide from Narbethong north-east of Melbourne says her home has been destroyed and there is little left of the town.
"Everyone we know has lost everything they had - it's not nice," she said. "I've been in Ash Wednesday but this is probably worse."
ABC Local Radio caller Georgina, whose husband battled to save the town of Strathewen with CFA volunteers, says the town has been devastated by the devastating fires.
She fears many of the town's residents may have lost their lives.
"It's just absolute devastation and people have seen things today that have been absolutely horrific," she said.
"There's a lot of families in Strathewen that we haven't been able to account for.
"The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late. We've lost friends, and we're just waiting for more - children, loved ones."
She says the town is largely inaccessible as fallen logs and debris block the main roads, but has urged trapped residents to remain optimistic.
"They're just so cut off out there and we just wait for daylight now and hope that there's nothing out there left to burn," she said.
"They're calling out to houses and they can't hear people answering. Hang in there anybody that's listening and still cut off because they're coming."
'One building standing'
The Country Fire Authority says there is "possibly one building left standing" in Marysville, after relentless bushfires engulfed the town, north of Melbourne.
Greg Esnouf, the CFA's deputy chief fire officer, told ABC Local Radio that Marysville had been all but destroyed by the blazes.
"We're starting to get some reports in now that are very saddening," he told ABC Local 774 in Melbourne.
"This latest report says Marysville possibly one building left standing - that's just shocking.
"Anyone who knows Marysville, it's a beautiful town and that's really sad. "It's very disturbing for the township itself."
The CFA later issued a statement saying Marysvalle residents were safe and had assembled at the local Gallipoli Park.
