UPDATE 7:45pm (AEST) POLICE have confirmed that 181 people have perished in the bushfires across the state.

Kinglake / Whittlsea Fires         147

Kinglake           35

Kinglake West  4

St Andrews      22

Humevale         6

Strathewen       30

Flowerdale       4

Hazeldene        2

Taggerty           3

Steeles Creek   7

Wandong         4

Arthurs Creek  3

Marysville         15

Clonbinane       1

Heathcote Junction       1

Narbethong      9

Yarra Glen       1       

Gippsland Fires            21

Callignee          11

Callignee Upper            1

Hazelwood       4

Jeeralang          1

Koornalla         4

Beechworth Fires         2

Mudgegonga    2    

Bendigo Fires   1

Eaglehawk        1   

Other Locations

(not defined)     10  

TOTAL            181

Police said is imperative that any residents in fire affected areas register their details with the Red Cross  - 1800 727 077 - immediately and notify them of their status. It is also equally important that members of the community who are still unable to contact friends or relatives register those details as well.

This will enable the Red Cross to maintain accurate records and is vital to enable police and emergency services to continue searching and assist in the identification of the deceased.

Historically:

75 - 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfire death toll

71 - 1939 Black Friday bushfire death toll