Australia bushfire crisis: PM Scott Morrison sets up national bushfire recovery agency, toll climbs to 24

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday established a National Bushfire Recovery ncy to co-ordinate recovery efforts ranging from rebuilding infrastructure to providing mental health support even as authorities struggled to tackle raging bushfire crisis which has so far claimed lives of 24 people.

ncy, heed by former federal police chief Andrew Colvin, will help bushfire affected communities recover, media reports said. Morrison, who is facing widespre criticism in Australia for his handling of crisis, said: "This organisation will be stood up for at least two years.

"I have doubt y will have a long list of recovery tasks that ( states) will be performing … rebuilding bridges, ros and or critical infrastructure and we will work hand in glove".

ncy will be modelling its operations closely on successful response provided to rth Queensland floods, he said.

"That ncy will be drawing on a series of support measures that includes mental health. It's important we are dressing mental health needs as well as many or health needs that will need to be dressed," Morrison said.

On Saturday, he called up 3,000 military reserve troops to combat bushfires, first time that reservists were called up in such a large number "in living memory". Morrison was criticised for taking a family vacation in Hawaii at start of wildfire crisis, with many people complaining about lack of reiness in utilisation of resources. Last week, he was heckled when he visited a township in New South Wales where houses have been destroyed and one of m belonged to one of three volunteer firefighters who have died in crisis.

Fresh warnings were issued to hundreds of people sheltering in New South Wales' coastal town of Eden with authorities urging m to vacate area immediately. Australian authorities continued to struggle with ongoing bushfire crisis across several states including Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. According to media reports, dozens of people h sought shelter on Eden's wharf, but police said that area was longer safe.

police officers warning tourists and those t able to defend ir homes to leave, said: "We cant guarantee your safety at present under conditions that we have w here at Eden Wharf". New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said reports of property losses "likely to be numbering in hundreds" as a result of Saturday's fire activity. Morrison, in a press conference in Parliament house on Saturday, said it was a very difficult day for Australia confirming 23 deaths for fire season this year. One more person died trying to save a friend's home on Sunday.

"I want to start by extending my sincere condolences and sympathies once again to all of those Australians and families who've lost loved ones during course of se devastating bushfires. Twenty-three confirmed deaths to date and we are facing ar extremely difficult next 24 hours," Prime Minister said.

bushfire crisis has taken a very heavy toll with more than 1,500 homes alrey lost throughout course of this fire season, which has been running since September, Morrison said.

"I also want to ackwledge outstanding work that is being done by all of those who've been turning out and responding to se natural disasters, t just in states currently impacted most drefully, in New South Wales and Victoria today, but also up in Queensland, across in Western Australia, down in Tasmania, even today South Australia. This has been touching entire country," he said.

In Victoria, warnings on several fires were downgred but re were still four emergency level warnings for fires and two evacuation warnings in place. Nearly 40 fires, over 923,000 hectares have been burned across Victoria and 110 homes have been confirmed lost, 220 outbuildings destroyed. Meanwhile, expected rainfall and cooler wear conditions on Sunday in state including Gippsland region were said to bring relief to crisis.

Emergency services minister Lisa Neville said rainfall of 200 mm over a few days would be needed to directly impact flames, and that is "t on horizon". Emergency Manment Commission Andrew Crisp said rain could in fact make it harder to access remote areas for back burning or or assistance. In NSW, 18 people lost ir lives in 150 bushfires burning, 64 un-contained across state. More than 3.6 million hectares have been burned with over 1300 homes destroyed.

In Victoria, two people are confirmed de while in South Australia three people are confirmed de with 15 bushfires burning. loss of life has been reported from Western Australia where 30 bushfires are burning. Queensland has 30 bushfires while Tasmania 23 bushfires burning. Over 3,000 firefighters are on frontline, with 31 specialist strike teams in place across NSW.

Australia's military has been assisting with aerial reconnaissance, mapping, search and rescue, logistics and aerial support for months. Prime Minister Morrison has cancelled his planned first visit to India from January 13 due to catastrophic bushfire crisis.