Aline Arragon shed tears as she learned of the lives claimed by the driver of a truck that ploughed through a crowd watching Bastille Day fireworks in the city so familiar to her.

At least 84 people were killed including several children and scores of people injured before police killed the driver.

Mrs Arragon, who moved to Australia a decade ago, went to university in Nice and was immediately concerned for family and friends who live in the French Riviera city.

“So far I am not sure who is injured or dead or alive,” she said mid-Friday.

“My sister-in-law and my nephew and niece are safe.

“Her husband has been called in to go and help which he is doing right now.”

The French-born woman had told the Daily Liberal in the wake of Islamic State (IS) gunmen and suicide bombers striking Paris, killing 130 people, that she thought it had been an act of war.

The latest attack, which Australian foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop said on Friday had all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, prompted more fears for the future.

“Yes of course it is hard to believe, but it has happened with Charlie Hebdo already,” Mrs Arragon said referring to the attack on a French satirical newspaper.

“France is not a safe country anymore, I am worried about my family over there and where will be the next attack.”

The mother of two said she first learned of the Nice attack when reading “strange” posts from some friends and family on social media saying they were safe and then tuned into the news.

“And the coverage of that event is so big that made me cry,” she said.

“So many kids dead, so many people.”

The state of emergency in France was extended, but Mrs Arragon was questioning if authorities were doing enough to keep people safe.

“I am very sad but also cranky at (this) monster but also the French government who is not protecting (its) people correctly,” she said.

“Their politics should be stronger against these kind of acts.”