Australia and Oceania

Australia firefighters race to contain blazes as heatwave looms

  by Andrew BEATTY Agence France Presse Firefighters raced to contain massive bushfires in southeastern Australia Tuesday, taking advantage of a brief drop in temperatures and some much-needed rainfall before another heatwave strikes later this week. Exhausted volunteers cleared ground vegetation and carried out controlled burns before temperatures and winds were expected to pick up again by Friday. “It really is about shoring up protection to limit the damage potential and the outbreak of the […]

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Tropical Cyclone Blake forms over northern Australia

SYDNEY, Australia  (AFP) — A tropical cyclone formed off the northwestern coast of Australia Monday, threatening the town of Broome with destructive 125 kilometers (80 miles) per hour winds, meteorologists said. Tropical Cyclone Blake became category one storm with sustained winds of 75 kilometers (47 miles) per hour and was expected to strengthen to a category two early Tuesday when it skirts the town of 14,000 people. The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents to “prepare for […]

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Fire-hit Australia gets $1.4bn recovery fund as troops deployed

by Glenda KWEK SYDNEY, Australia  (AFP) — Reserve troops fanned out across fire-ravaged regions in three Australian states on Monday after a horror weekend, as the government pledged $1.4 billion over two years to help recover from the devastating months-long crisis. Catastrophic bushfires have turned swathes of land into smouldering, blackened hellscapes and destroyed an area about the size of the island of Ireland, according to official figures, with authorities warning the disaster still has weeks […]

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Troops deployed across fire-hit Australia after horror weekend

EDEN, Australia  (AFP) — Reserve troops were deployed to fire-ravaged regions across three Australian states on Monday after a torrid weekend that turned swathes of land into smouldering, blackened hellscapes. The bushfires have now destroyed an area the size of Ireland, according to official figures, and authorities warned the months-long crisis is not over as another heatwave looms. Firefighters joined by fresh teams from the US and Canada were taking advantage of rainy and cooler conditions to tackle out-of-control blazes ahead of soaring temperatures forecast later […]

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Tropical Cyclone Blake forms over northern Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A tropical cyclone formed off the northwestern coast of Australia Monday, threatening the town of Broome with destructive 125 kilometers (80 miles) per hour winds, meteorologists said. Tropical Cyclone Blake became category one storm with sustained winds of 75 kilometers (47 miles) per hour and was expected to strengthen to a category two early Tuesday when it skirts the town of 14,000 people. The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents to “prepare […]

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Nearly Aus$25 mn raised as Australia reels from bushfire fury

  EDEN, Australia (AFP) — A global appeal to help Australian firefighters tackling catastrophic bushfires raised almost Aus$25 million on Sunday, as swathes of the country suffered extensive damage and the death toll from the long-running crisis hit 24. East coast seaside towns were plunged into darkness, ash rained down on rural communities and major cities were again cloaked in choking smoke, even as stunned Australians tried to regroup amid a wave of cooler air […]

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Power supply fears as troops called to battle Australia bushfires

by Holly ROBERTSON / with Andrew Beatty and Glenda Kwek in Sydney Agence France-Presse BATEMANS BAY, Australia (AFP) — Skies turned black and ash rained down as fires raged across southeastern Australia on Saturday, threatening power supplies to major cities and prompting the call-up of 3,000 military reservists. Temperature records were smashed, and gale-force winds pounded fire-stricken coastal communities in the two most populous states New South Wales and Victoria. New South Wales Premier Gladys […]

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Kyrgios to donate $140 for each ace to help bushfire relief

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Nick Kyrgios has pledged Aus $200 (US$140) for each ace he serves across the Australian summer of tennis to support victims of bushfires raging around the country, with the ATP Cup Friday also promising help. The temperamental Australian, a controversial figure in the sport with a bad boy reputation, has been at the forefront of rallying support among players to help. “I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. […]

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Military evacuates fire-hit Australian town

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The Australian military has begun the seaborne evacuation of hundreds of people trapped in a fire-ringed southeastern town, as the country braced for more catastrophic conditions. A navy landing craft from the HMAS Choules docked in the town of Mallacoota, where residents trapped on the foreshore since New Year’s Eve clambered aboard with family, pets and a few belongings. Military aircraft have also been working with emergency crews to drop relief […]

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Australia orders evacuation of fire-ravaged towns before heatwave

  by Holly Robertson  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia authorized the forced evacuation of residents Thursday amid a mass exodus of tourists from fire-ravaged coastal communities, as the country braces for a weekend heatwave expected to fan deadly bushfires. Catastrophic blazes ripped through the country’s south-east on New Year’s Eve, killing at least eight people and stranding holidaymakers. New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a seven-day state of emergency that allows for forced evacuations […]

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Australia scrambles to reach thousands stranded by bushfires

by Holly ROBERTSON SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Relief supplies began reaching thousands of people stranded in fire-ravaged Australian towns Wednesday after deadly bushfires ripped through popular tourist spots and rural areas leaving at least eight people dead. Navy ships and military aircraft were deployed alongside emergency crews to provide humanitarian relief and assess the damage from the deadliest spate of blazes yet in a months-long bushfire crisis. Police said three more bodies were discovered Wednesday, […]

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Thousands trapped on Australia beach encircled by fire

  by Andrew BEATTY Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Thousands of holidaymakers and locals were trapped on a beach in fire-ravaged southeast Australia Tuesday, as blazes ringed a popular tourist area leaving no escape by land. As many as four thousand people are trapped on the foreshore of the encircled seaside town of Mallacoota, as smoke turned day to night and the authorities said nearby fires were causing extreme thunderstorms and “ember attacks”. […]

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