Crime scenes
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UPDATE 3.45am: WHOLE towns have been declared crime scenes as the toll from Victoria's worst natural disaster leapt to 166.
The death tolls in two of Victoria’s hardest hit towns have jumped dramatically in just a few hours.
In the latest figures released by police about 2.30am, the death toll in St Andrews leapt from six to 22 and at Strathewen from seven to 26.
It is believed the jump in numbers came after rescuers found large groups of bodies were people huddled together as they tried to brave the blaze.
Premier John Brumby yesterday warned the bushfire emergency would get worse before it gets any better.
"We've still got fires that are not contained," he said.
"There is a huge effort to get them under control.
"Tragically, we will have more deaths later this week."
There are fears the tragedy will have claimed more than 200 lives by the time police complete their searches of towns wiped out by the blazes.
The bushfire death toll has now reached 166 dead as police tried to account for the people who perished in the fires.
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