Australian officials said today arsonists set some of the brush fires that turned northeastern Victoria into "hell on earth," killing at least 134 people, UPI reported. The death toll could climb to well over 200, officials said. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the arsonists were "mass murderers. A search was on for the arsonists, officials said. The burned out region was described by one government leader as "hell on earth." Army troops were deployed in northeastern Victoria to help exhausted police in their search for more fire victims, The Australian reported. Troops were also helping firefighters as they continued to battle blazes threatening townships in the southern Australian state. The official death toll from brush fires was 134, with officials reporting 28 fires still burning and more than 700 homes destroyed. Victorian Premier John Brumby said a royal commission would investigate the weekend's brush fires, including aspects of the government's brush fire strategy.
