Australian police have confirmed the deaths of another eight people in the Victorian bushfires, taking the toll to 189, ABC News reported Monday.
The latest figure includes 128 killed in the Kinglake fire, 10 at Churchill and 43 in the fires at Marysville, it said.
Disaster Victim Identification teams have been examining some of the areas hardest hit by fires for the first time.
ABC News quoted Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe as saying that some of the bodies may never be identified.
"It is a very difficult process in some cases to actually be able to determine whether the remains are human remains or not," he said.
Police expected the death toll to rise even further.
A community memorial service will be held in Melbourne on Sunday as part of a national day of mourning to honor those affected by the Victorian bushfires.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2009)