HEALESVILLE, Australia — A spokesman says fire officials have confirmed that 750 houses have been destroyed in Australia’s deadly wildfires and that tally will rise.
Hayden Lane of the Victoria Country Fire Service said Sunday that 550 of the houses confirmed as destroyed in Saturday’s fires are in the area of Kinglake, north of the main southern city of Melbourne.
The others were in nearby areas.
Police say at least 96 people have died in the blazes, and they expect the death toll is likely to rise further.
High temperatures and strong winds created furnace-like conditions across southern Victoria state on Saturday, though conditions eased Sunday.
