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Australian Bushfire toll reaches 173

Other News Materials 10 February 2009 05:04 (UTC +04:00)

Australian police confirmed on Tuesday that 173 people have died in the bushfires across the state of Victoria, Xinhua reported.

The toll has risen by seven early Tuesday morning with three more bodies found at the wiped-out town pf Marysville, taking the toll there to 15, and four more bodies at Strathewen where the toll there is now 30.

Firefighters will again have their hands full as southerly winds pick up in central, northeast and eastern Victoria with little rain in sight as 24 fires continue to rage, Victoria police said.

Meanwhile, police will pursue anyone who has deliberately lit fires that have ravaged Victoria, Chief Commissioner of Victoria state Christine Nixon said.

"These people have lit these fires on the worst day that Victoria could have had," Nixon said.

"We will pursue these people and anyone who has any information, or think there may have been something strange about particular fires, please contact us on Crimestoppers," she told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

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