Eighth person found dead in NSW south coast bushfires
An eighth person has died in the NSW south coast bushfires since December 30, police have confirmed.
A body was found about 4pm (local time) on Monday between a Nerrigundah property and a car, which were decimated in the Badja Forest Road Fire.
NSW Police received reports of a missing 71-year-old man, who was last seen on December 31, and was moving equipment on his Nerrigundah property.
The body, which is yet to be formally identified, is believed to be that of the missing man.
Due to fire risk, police were unable to access the property until Monday when they conducted a large-scale search.
Detectives from the South Coast Police District are being assisted by the NSW Police Force Rescue and the Volunteer Rescue Association.
A report will be prepared for the coroner and inquiries continue, NSW Police said in a statement.
This bushfire season, which started in October, 20 people have died in NSW, eight of those being from the south coast, and 10 of the 20 have died in the past week.
In NSW 136 bushfires continue to burn on the south coast, Snowy Mountains, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Mid North Coast, amounting to almost five million hectares.
Since the start of the bushfire season, it has been confirmed 1482 homes have been destroyed, with that number expected to rise.
With AAP
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