Thousands of people sought help at various relief centers in Australia since Saturday morning.

With the large parts of Victoria still under threat, early-response charities, including the Australian Red Cross and the Salvation Army, have been busy with helping those who need urgent help. The Red Cross said that 20 relief centers were operating and 500 volunteers have distributed 20,000 meals to those seeking help.

“We know that people need our help now, and they will continue to need it for some time yet,” Australian Associated Press quoted him as saying.

“It would be in the thousands, quite literally and that will continue. In terms of firefighters themselves, it would be many, many hundreds of people,” Major Brad Halse told reporters.