Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MELBOURNE21
2009-02-10 04:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Melbourne
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS
how-toVZCZCXRO6873 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHBN #0021 0410449 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 100449Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4874 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1524
UNCLAS MELBOURNE 000021
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS
Ref: A) Melbourne 20, B) Melbourne 17, C) Canberra 134, D) Canberra
100
Summary
-------
UNCLAS MELBOURNE 000021
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS
Ref: A) Melbourne 20, B) Melbourne 17, C) Canberra 134, D) Canberra
100
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Australia's deadliest wild fire in memory continues to burn
in many parts of Victoria. While most of these fires are under
control at the moment, higher winds and temperatures are expected by
the end of the week. The official death toll for the blazes has
reached at least 173 and officials expect it to rise as emergency
crews search through previously inaccessible areas. Post has not
received any report of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the blazes
and is maintaining close links with emergency personnel. While
Australians have already commenced relief efforts, many expect more
bad news over the coming week. End Summary.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
--------------
2. (SBU) Officials have confirmed that at least 173 lives have been
lost in Australia's worst wild fires in memory and expect the number
to continue to rise as recovery efforts continue for missing persons
(reftels). Approximately 5,000 people have reportedly been left
homeless by the fires. Paul Davis, an Australian Emergency
Management official seconded to Victoria's Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE) informed post on February 10
that of the approximately 25 ongoing fires throughout the state, 12
are of "major concern." According to Davis, these fires are mostly
contained but there is some concern that warmer weather and stronger
winds expected by the end of the week could complicate firefighting
efforts. Approximately 3,800 emergency personnel are deployed
throughout the state, Davis said. Bodie Shaw, Deputy Director of
the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian
Affairs) and the primary U.S. link between the DOI and the
government of Victoria, continues to liaise with officials to
finalize details on the possible deployment of U.S. wildfire assets
to Australia.
3. (SBU) Victoria Premier John Brumby announced a royal commission
into the brush fires on February 9 and indicated that the state's
"stay and defend or leave early" policy may be reviewed in the
aftermath of the blazes. Police are treating each fire site as a
crime scene and suspect that arsonists may have contributed to the
fires. A visibly emotional Prime Minister Rudd described arsonists
as "mass murderers" on February 9. During a condolence session in
parliament on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
that "the seventh of February 2009 will be remembered as one of the
darkest days in Australia's peacetime history."
American Citizens
--------------
4. (SBU) As of 3:30 PM local time, post had not received any report
of American citizens injured or killed in the fires. Post continues
to maintain contact with hospitals, emergency services and local
American clubs and notes that there has not been a substantial
increase in the number of services requested since the fires began
on February 7. We have confirmed the safety of the two U.S.
citizens concerned in the welfare and whereabouts (W&W) request
received on February 9 (ref. A) and are following up on two other
W&W requests received on February 10. Post has also received a
report from a dual U.S./Australian citizen that her home located 50
kilometers northeast of Melbourne had been destroyed in the fire.
The U.S. citizen and her family are safe and have support in the
area to provide for living arrangements. She has not requested
additional consular assistance at this time.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) With fires still burning in many parts of the state, the
devastation wrought by the fires is far from over. Australians are
already moving to assess the scope of the damage and rebuild as
corporations have donated more than A$16 million (US$10.7 million)
to the relief effort. Initial media reports of the deployment of
U.S. wildfire assets to Victoria have been well received by locals
as a demonstration of solidarity.
THURSTON
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS
Ref: A) Melbourne 20, B) Melbourne 17, C) Canberra 134, D) Canberra
100
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Australia's deadliest wild fire in memory continues to burn
in many parts of Victoria. While most of these fires are under
control at the moment, higher winds and temperatures are expected by
the end of the week. The official death toll for the blazes has
reached at least 173 and officials expect it to rise as emergency
crews search through previously inaccessible areas. Post has not
received any report of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the blazes
and is maintaining close links with emergency personnel. While
Australians have already commenced relief efforts, many expect more
bad news over the coming week. End Summary.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
--------------
2. (SBU) Officials have confirmed that at least 173 lives have been
lost in Australia's worst wild fires in memory and expect the number
to continue to rise as recovery efforts continue for missing persons
(reftels). Approximately 5,000 people have reportedly been left
homeless by the fires. Paul Davis, an Australian Emergency
Management official seconded to Victoria's Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE) informed post on February 10
that of the approximately 25 ongoing fires throughout the state, 12
are of "major concern." According to Davis, these fires are mostly
contained but there is some concern that warmer weather and stronger
winds expected by the end of the week could complicate firefighting
efforts. Approximately 3,800 emergency personnel are deployed
throughout the state, Davis said. Bodie Shaw, Deputy Director of
the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian
Affairs) and the primary U.S. link between the DOI and the
government of Victoria, continues to liaise with officials to
finalize details on the possible deployment of U.S. wildfire assets
to Australia.
3. (SBU) Victoria Premier John Brumby announced a royal commission
into the brush fires on February 9 and indicated that the state's
"stay and defend or leave early" policy may be reviewed in the
aftermath of the blazes. Police are treating each fire site as a
crime scene and suspect that arsonists may have contributed to the
fires. A visibly emotional Prime Minister Rudd described arsonists
as "mass murderers" on February 9. During a condolence session in
parliament on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
that "the seventh of February 2009 will be remembered as one of the
darkest days in Australia's peacetime history."
American Citizens
--------------
4. (SBU) As of 3:30 PM local time, post had not received any report
of American citizens injured or killed in the fires. Post continues
to maintain contact with hospitals, emergency services and local
American clubs and notes that there has not been a substantial
increase in the number of services requested since the fires began
on February 7. We have confirmed the safety of the two U.S.
citizens concerned in the welfare and whereabouts (W&W) request
received on February 9 (ref. A) and are following up on two other
W&W requests received on February 10. Post has also received a
report from a dual U.S./Australian citizen that her home located 50
kilometers northeast of Melbourne had been destroyed in the fire.
The U.S. citizen and her family are safe and have support in the
area to provide for living arrangements. She has not requested
additional consular assistance at this time.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) With fires still burning in many parts of the state, the
devastation wrought by the fires is far from over. Australians are
already moving to assess the scope of the damage and rebuild as
corporations have donated more than A$16 million (US$10.7 million)
to the relief effort. Initial media reports of the deployment of
U.S. wildfire assets to Victoria have been well received by locals
as a demonstration of solidarity.
THURSTON