All people missing in Victoria's deadly bushfires have been found safe, but at least 200 homes have been destroyed.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday confirmed the four people missing on Sunday were accounted for and no one was listed as missing in the fires that
He also announced a new and permanent $50 million government agency Bushfire Recovery Victoria, to be headed by former police chief commissioner Ken Lay to respond to the fires.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a permanent $50 million government agency Bushfire Recovery Victoria. Source: AAP
"It will coordinate all government effort," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"Unlike the authority that was established in the wake of the February 2009 fires, this is not a time-limited or an authority that's about clean-up and recovery just for these bushfires.
"Because we're going to see longer fire seasons and we are going to see - we should just be honest about the fact - we're going to see more and more fires, more and more damage as each fire season comes."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference at the State Control Centre in Melbourne. Source: AAP
Thick smoke from bushfires is likely to blanket Melbourne for days, prompting a warning from authorities.
The air quality is at its worst in East Gippsland, where dozens of bushfires continue to burn on Monday.
The Environment Protection Authority has also recorded "very poor" air quality in Melbourne's metropolitan area, attributing the smoke to bushfires burning in the state as well as in NSW and Tasmania.
Chief environmental scientist Andrea Henwood urged people to take precautions, saying the smoke will linger until Wednesday.
"Close everything up. Seal the doors. Now would be a good time to do that because this is going to persist for the rest of the day," Dr Henwood told reporters.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton advised people with lung or heart conditions, the young and old, and pregnant women to stay indoors.
He said healthy people may also experience symptoms including eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, sneezing and congestion.
Twenty-two people are dead and more than 200 homes destroyed after fires torn through Victoria. Source: AAP
There are 31 fires burning across Victoria as of Monday morning, with 18 in eastern Gippsland and six in the northeast.
One million hectares has been burnt across Victoria.
Rain has started to fall, but not across all fire-affected areas and not enough to douse the fires, and is creating new difficulties.
A Forest Fire Management vehicle flipped on a greasy road on Sunday because rain had not fallen in the area for so long, Mr Andrews said.
No one in the vehicle was seriously injured.
The deadly fires have killed Buchan man Mick Roberts and Maramingo Creek man Fred Becker.
The cooler weather has allowed military helicopters to deliver supplies to isolated communities and help with
They also rescued 406 people from Mallacoota but attempts to fly out another 300 on Monday were stalled because of the smoke. Navy ships brought out more than 1100 people on Saturday.
Evacuees from Mallacoota disembark from Naval vessels. Source: NEWS CORP POOL
More than 3500 properties remain without power, with AusNet bringing in generators when possible and restoring the network when it is safe to do so.
All warnings now sit at a watch and act level.
The state government has announced a fund to support Victorian bushfire survivors, contributing $2 million.
