OREANDA-NEWS. The death toll in forest fires enveloping southeast Australia has increased to 25 people. This was announced on January 6 by the press service of New South Wales State’s police.

Currently, law enforcement officers establish the circumstances of the death of a 71 year old man, who was previously considered missing.

136 forest fires were registered in the territory of the state, 69 of them were not localized. 2.5 thousand firefighters and hundreds of units of special equipment, including 90 heavy aircrafts, were mobilized to combat fire. The territory of the New South Wales is completely closed to tourists, and residents are ordered to be ready for immediate evacuation at any time.

The death toll on the territory of New South Wales is 20 people, one person is missing. Throughout the entire period of forest fires, 25 people, including 3 firefighters, died because of the disaster.