The death toll in the wildfires that raged through southeastern Australia has risen to 189 and is expected to go even higher, police said Monday.
Victoria state Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said the figure would rise as the search for bodies continues through the charred rubble of houses, towns and devastated countryside.
"Police have completed their search in open areas," Walshe told reporters.
Forensic experts were now searching in more difficult areas and Walshe warned it would take some time for a final toll to be declared.
"I don't think it's in the best interests of the community or anybody else for me to speculate what the numbers might be at some point in time," he said.
"We've got to remember we're dealing with people's lives here.
"We've got to show some respect to the community and show some respect to those people who have lost their lives in these terrible fires."
The official death toll had stood at 181 for almost a week, even though body identification specialists and forensic experts had spent days sifting through the ashes of devastated towns.
Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said recovering and identifying remains was complex and difficult.
The most important thing was that families of missing bushfire victims were given correct information, he said.
"The sensitivity is to get it right," Esplin said.
"It's a huge task and it's a hugely sensitive task for the police, fire services and the defence force that are supporting them in recovering remains and appropriately identifying remains."
Around 1,800 homes were destroyed in the fires.
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