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More than 170 people are now known to have been killed by bushfires raging in south-eastern Australia.
Many animals were also caught in the fire
Police believe some of the fires were started deliberately, actions which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said amounted to "mass murder".
Some rural towns have been completely destroyed. The Kinglake district north of Melbourne has been particularly hard hit.
Thomas Legrary spoke to the World Today from Kinglake:
Listen Listen to Thomas Legrary (1 min 14 secs)
Fran Bailey is the MP for McEwen, in Victoria state:
Listen Listen to Fran Bailey (3 mins 58 secs)
First broadcast 9 February 2009
