Australian PM on fire devastation

The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said the wildfires across south eastern Australia are a tragedy for the whole nation.

Mr Rudd, who has been touring devastated areas, said "hell and all its fury" had visited the state of Victoria where reports say an entire town has been almost completely destroyed.

Some victims of the fires were killed in their cars as they tried to escape the fast-moving flames.

Tens of thousands of firefighters have been deployed and the federal government has offered military assistance.