UPDATE, 8.50pm: Victorians are reeling from "hurricane-like" and "horrifying" bushfires which have claimed the life of a man in East Gippsland.
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Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and on Wednesday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his Buchan home.
"He's not missing anymore," Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page.
"His body has been found in his house..very sad day for us to start (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick."
Victoria Police said a person had been found dead in Buchan, but the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
Earlier on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said four people were still missing, but would not say what communities in East Gippsland the people belonged to.
"Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people," he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre.
Mr Andrews lamented reports of Mr Roberts' death.
It is of course the worst of all news, the notion that someone has lost their life
- Daniel Andrews told ABC Gippsland
After spending more than a day on emergency alert, the bushfire threat in East Gippsland and at Corryong in northeast Victoria was downgraded to watch and acts.
More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt, after three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday.
The blaze at Corryong has burnt at least 109,000 hectares.
The total area burnt has exceeded that of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009.
There were 47 fires still burning across Victoria at 6:30pm on Wednesday, nine of which were at the watch and act level.
A blaze in Sunbury, northwest of Melbourne, was briefly subject to an emergency warning - the highest alert level - in the afternoon before eventually being downgraded to an advice.
The risk of flare-ups elsewhere remains. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday and dry lightning has continued to spark new fires.
Mr Andrews spent Wednesday in East Gippsland where he said emotions were running high.
I spoke with people today and they just said it was hurricane-like, horrifying, terrifying, the most frightening experience of their life
"The next few days are going to be a lot of hard work and the next few months will be a very long and steady process of helping these communities to rebuild."
So far, confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
AusNet said it could take days to restore power because it was unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage.
Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk.
A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota, an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border, from Tuesday to reduce public health risks.
A NSW police boat brought in water to Mallacoota on Tuesday and a Victoria water police boat is taking 1.6 tonnes of water on Wednesday.
A barge from Melbourne with two weeks' supply of food, water and fuel is also making its way to the town.
After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel have begun helping with the relief effort, including undertaking rapid damage assessments.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in coming days to move people out of the area.
Naval vessels including HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
UPDATE, 6pm: Bushfires raging in Victoria's East Gippsland have turned deadly, with the body of a man found in his home.
News of the death comes as a bushfire burns out of control in Sunbury, about 40km from the Melbourne CBD.
Mick Roberts had not made contact with family on Tuesday, with his niece Leah Parson posting online on Wednesday that he had died at his Buchan home.
"He's not missing anymore ... sorry but his body has been found in his house ...very sad day for us to srart (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick," Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page.
Victoria Police confirmed a person had been found dead in Buchan.
Earlier on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said four people were still missing, but would not say what communities in East Gippsland the people belonged to.
"Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people," he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre on Wednesday.
After spending more than a day on emergency alert, the threat in East Gippsland and at Corryong in northeast Victoria had been downgraded to watch and acts.
But a bushfire is now burning out of control at Canterbury Avenue in Sunbury, northwest of Melbourne.
An emergency warning - the highest alert level - was issued at 4.20pm, before being downgraded to a watch and act about 20 minutes later.
The risk of flare-ups elsewhere remains. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday and dry lightning has continued to spark new fires.
More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt as three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday.
The blaze at Corryong has burnt 109,000 hectares and is also at risk of spreading and merging.
Confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
AusNet said it could take days to restore power because the fires were still burning and it was unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage.
Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk.
A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota, an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border, from Tuesday to reduce public health risks.
A NSW police boat brought in water to Mallacoota on Tuesday and a Victoria water police boat is taking 1.6 tonnes of water on Wednesday.
A barge from Melbourne with two weeks' supply of food, water and fuel is also making its way to the town.
After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel have begun helping with the relief effort, including undertaking rapid damage assessments.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days to help move people out of the area.
Naval vessels including HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
UPDATE, 1.30pm: Helicopters will fly out 90 firefighters stuck at a Victorian fire ground for a shift change, while four people are still missing from the state's devastating bushfires.
Premier Daniel Andrews would not reveal what towns the people are missing from.
"Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people," he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre on Wednesday.
By 1pm on Wednesday with cooler weather conditions, all fires in Victoria's east had been downgraded from emergency to watch and act alerts.
But dry lightning has started new fires and there's a risk fires will continue to merge, including with blazes in NSW, particularly on Saturday when the fire risk will move back to extreme.
Firefighters will be flown out of an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border so there can be a shift change.
"We've got choppers taking 90 firefighters out of the Mallacoota area, they can't be removed any other way - we're essentially doing a shift change by the air," Mr Andrews said.
"We've never done that before, getting firefighters that are essentially isolated in that Mallacoota community out and fresh teams going in."
Mr Andrews and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the situation had been unprecedented.
"I know everyone wants it to be simple. We do, too. It is not. This is a complex set of fires and the coming days and week also be very challenging," Mr Andrews said.
More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt as three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday.
The blaze at Corryong in northeast Victoria on the NSW border is also at risk of spreading and merging.
Confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
AusNet says it could take days to restore power because the fires are still burning and it is unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage.
Phones remain cut across much of the region.
A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota from Tuesday to reduce public health risks.
After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.
The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and facilitate evacuations as needed.
Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
Thousands of people remain stranded in remote communities because of blazes.
Parts of the Princes Highway will be opened on Wednesday to allow people to escape.
UPDATE, 12.30pm: Five emergency alerts have been downgraded in Victoria's fire-ravaged East Gippsland, but a significant risk remains with forecast worsening conditions.
The warning for Buchan, Bruthen, Ensay, Cann Valley and Mallacoota moved to a watch-and-act alert on Wednesday morning, while the fire in the Upper Snowy area was recategorised to an advice alert.
"The cooler weather has slowed the movement of fire however the fire is still active (with) a risk of spot fires and embers," the alert for Buchan, Gelantipy, Suggan Buggan, Timbarra, W Tree, Wulgulmerang reads.
"The weather predicted for Saturday could result in significant fire movement."
Residents have been urged to prepare themselves and their properties.
Two emergency warnings remain in place, one in East Gippsland for Goongerah and one for a blaze at Corryong in northeast Victoria on the NSW border.
Four people remain missing after the destructive bushfires burnt through more than half a million hectares, with lightning continuing to spark new blazes.
Three fires in East Gippsland have already joined and others are spreading across the NSW-Victoria border.
The fire that drove thousands of people to shelter on a beach at Mallacoota is about 100,000 hectares in size and has moved into NSW.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said 24 structures have been destroyed at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
AusNet says it could take days to restore power because the fires are still burning and it is unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage.
Phones remain cut across much of the region.
A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota from Tuesday to reduce public health risks.
"East Gippsland Water advises that due to the increased demand on the Mallacoota water treatment plant from the bushfires, it cannot guarantee water quality," the alert reads.
Where possible, water should be brought to a rolling boil before being used for drinking, preparing beverages, washing and preparing food, preparing baby formula, brushing teeth or making ice, until further notice.
After a request from Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.
The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and facilitate evacuations as needed.
Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
Thousands of people remain stranded in remote communities because of blazes.
Parts of the Princes Highway will be opened on Wednesday to allow people to escape.
The state government also announced a bushfire response task force to aid those dealing with fallout from the fires.
The premier and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville are due to visit the region on Wednesday.
UPDATE, 11.15am: Hundreds of people are taking cover in a Cann River school with bushfires still wreaking havoc in East Gippsland, according to media reports.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is set to host a press conference shortly to update the situation.
Two emergency alerts have been downgraded in Victoria's fire-ravaged East Gippsland, but a significant risk remains with forecast worsening conditions.
The warning for Buchan moved to a watch-and-act alert on Wednesday morning, while the fire in the Upper Snowy area was recategorised to an advice alert.
"The cooler weather has slowed the movement of fire however the fire is still active (with) a risk of spot fires and embers," the alert for Buchan, Gelantipy, Suggan Buggan, Timbarra, W Tree, Wulgulmerang reads.
"The weather predicted for Saturday could result in significant fire movement."
Residents have been urged to prepare themselves and their properties.
Across Victoria five emergency warnings remain in place including four in East Gippsland from Bruthen to Mallacoota and one for a blaze at Corryong in northeast Victoria on the NSW border.
The destructive bushfires have burnt through more than half a million hectares and lightning continues to spark new blazes.
Three fires in East Gippsland have already joined and others are spreading across the NSW-Victoria border.
The fire that drove thousands of people to shelter on a beach at Mallacoota is about 100,000 hectares in size and has moved into NSW.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said 24 structures have been destroyed at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
AusNet says it could take days to restore power because the fires are still burning and it is unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage.
Phones remain cut across much of the region.
After a request from Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.
The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and facilitate evacuations as needed.
Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
Thousands of people remain stranded in remote communities because of blazes.
Parts of the Princes Highway will be opened on Wednesday to allow people to escape.
The state government also announced a bushfire response task force to aid those dealing with fallout from the fires.
The premier and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville are due to visit the region on Wednesday.
EARLIER: Destructive bushfires have burnt through more than half a million hectares in Victoria's East Gippsland and more blazes have started.
Seven emergency alerts remain in place in Victoria's east, four people are still missing and thunderstorms continued to create dry lightning, sparking new fires overnight.
"The fire threat in our state has increased overnight. There were some more thunderstorms come through with dry lightning and we have a number of new fires in Mount Hotham, King Valley and we have 45 going fires in the east of the state," Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told ABC News on Wednesday.
Three fires in East Gippsland have already joined and Mr Crisp said there is worry that a fire burning in northeast Victoria at Corryong could join with them too.
Some blazes are now spreading between NSW and Victoria.
The fire that drove thousands of people to shelter on the beach at Mallacoota is now about 100,000 hectares and moved into NSW.
Mr Crisp said 24 structures have been destroyed at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and 10-to-15 at Cudgewa.
After a request from Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.
Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.
The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and help with evacuations as needed.
Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
It comes as thousands of people remain stranded in remote communities because of blazes as firefighters continue their efforts.
Parts of the Princes Highway will be opened on Wednesday to allow people to escape.
The state government also announced a bushfire response task force to avoid red tape in dealing with fallout from the blazes.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville will visit the region on Wednesday.
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