Australia launches hunt for arsonists
Australian officials said Monday arsonists set some of the brush fires that have raged in northeastern Victoria, killing at least 134 people.
The death toll could climb to well over 200, officials said.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the arsonists were "mass murderers.
A search was on for the arsonists, officials said.
Army troops were deployed in northeastern Victoria to help exhausted police in their search for more fire victims, The Australian reported.
Troops were also helping firefighters as they continued to battle blazes
threatening townships in the southern Australian state. The official death toll from brush fires was 134, with officials reporting 28 fires still burning and more than 700 homes destroyed.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said a royal commission would investigate the weekend's brush fires, including aspects of the government's brush fire strategy, and its policy of allowing people to defend their property. He said many of the people who died were protecting their homes.
Tragically, we will have more deaths later this week,
he told the Australian.
Rudd, after touring devastated areas of Victoria Sunday, told reporters, What can you say? What can you say? There are no words to describe it other than mass murder.
Firefighters throughout Victoria were dealing with increased fire activity near Dederang and a new fire east of Tallangatta, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Officials said they believe the new fire was started by lightning and is threatening communities around Koetong, Shelley and Darbyshire.
UPI
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