Australia News

Sydney Blanketed by Smoke for a 4th Day Due to Hazard Reduction Burning

SYDNEY (AP) — Sydney was blanketed under thick wood smoke for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday due to hazard reduction burns in preparation for the wildfire season. Australia’s most populous city after Melbourne has recorded some of the world’s …

Australian Authorities Protect Outback Town Against Huge Wildfire

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Emergency crews were working to protect the Outback Australian town of Tennant Creek with containment lines on Wednesday as a huge wildfire threatened the remote community of 3,000. The fire has scorched 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 …

Driver Charged After Bus Carrying Wedding Guests in Australia Rolls over, Killing 25

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – The driver of a bus was charged Monday after the vehicle carrying wedding guests rolled over on a foggy night in Australia’s wine country, killing 10 people and injuring 25 in the nation’s most deadly road …

Destructive Cyclone Forecast to Hit Northwest Australia

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A tropical cyclone is expected to intensify to the most destructive category before it crosses the northwest Australian coast with winds gusting at more than 280 kph (170 mph), meteorologists said Thursday. Cyclones are common along …

Residents Flee as Cyclone Approaches Northwest Australia

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Miners, cattle ranchers, tourists and Indigenous locals were evacuating from Australia’s remote northwest coast on Wednesday as an intensifying tropical cyclone approached. Cyclone Ilsa is expected to peak as a Category 4 storm as it crosses …

Waters Again Threaten Australia Town Flooded 2 Weeks Ago

SYDNEY (AP) _ Around 1,000 people in the Australian town of Forbes were told to evacuate their homes on Tuesday ahead of flooding while much of central New South Wales state was on high alert. The State Emergency Service said …

Australian Floods Could Inundate or Isolate 34,000 Homes

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Around 34,000 homes could be inundated or isolated in Victoria state as a flood emergency continues across parts of Australia’s southeast, an official said Monday. Victoria is the worst-affected state with some towns experiencing the highest …

Flood Warnings as Southeast Australia Lashed by Heavy Rain

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) –Flood warnings were issued, thousands of homes lost power and a man was missing as heavy rain lashed southeast Australia on Thursday. Rivers across Australia’s most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, and the island state …

Heavy Rain Eases in Australia’s East, Flood Threats Remain

SYDNEY –– Heavy rains eased across Australia’s east on Monday, a slight relief for flood-weary residents but authorities warned another intense weather system could hit several inland regions bringing more downpours and triggering flash flooding. Northern Victoria state, southern New …

Australia Mulls Tougher Cybersecurity Laws After Data Breach

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government said on Monday it is considering tougher cybersecurity rules for telecommunications companies and blamed Optus, the nation’s second-largest wireless carrier, for an unprecedented breach of personal data from 9.8 million customers. Optus said …