Firefighters and rescuers pulled the remains of dozens of people from charred buildings today as the death toll rose to at least 171 from Australia's deadliest bushfires.
Police believe some of the fires, which razed rural towns near the country's second biggest city, Melbourne, were deliberately lit and declared one devastated town a crime scene.
Officers indicated they were closing in on arsonists believed to be responsible for lighting some of the 400 fires that have left 5,000 homeless and destroyed a 350,000 hectare area north of Melbourne in the past three days.
"There are no words to describe it other than mass murder," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told local television. These numbers (dead) are numbing . . . and I fear they will rise further," he added.
The bushfires are the country's worst natural disaster in more than a century, and will put pressure on Mr Rudd to deliver a broad new climate policy.
One massive bushfire tore through several towns in the southern state of Victoria on Saturday night, destroying everything in its path.
Many people died in cars trying to flee and others were killed huddled in their homes, yet some escaped by jumping in swimming pools or farm reservoirs.
The inferno was as tall as a four-storey building at one stage and was sparking spot fires 40 km ahead of itself as the strong winds blew hot embers in its path.
More than 750 houses were destroyed and some 78 people, with serious burns and injuries, are in hospital.
Many patients had burns to more than 30 per cent of their bodies and some injuries were worse than the Bali bombings in 2002, said one doctor at a hospital emergency department.
Wildfires are a natural annual event in Australia, but this year a combination of scorching weather, drought and tinder-dry bush has created prime conditions.
The fires, and major floods in the Queensland in the north, will put pressure on Mr Rudd who is due to deliver a new climate policy in May. Green politicians are citing the extreme weather to back a tougher climate policy.
Scientists say Australia, with its harsh environment, is set to be one of the nations most affected nations by climate change.
The Victorian bushfire tragedy is the worst natural disaster in Australia in 110 years. In 1899, Cyclone Mahina struck Australia's northern Cape York, killing more than 400.
Reuters