Fires burned across 770 square miles north of Melbourne, destroying 80% of one town and leaving thousands homeless. The death toll from the fires has reached 86, making it the worst bushfire tragedy in Australian history, surpassing the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. The blazes continued to burn uncontained.
13. The death toll so far reported is 86.Higest in the history of Australian bushfire tragedy, worse than so-called Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 . And thousands are home less. The blazes are yet to be contained.