Skip to main content
Global Edition
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Storms douse some of Australia's bushfire-hit areas

Duration: 01:10s 0 shares 1 views

Storms douse some of Australia's bushfire-hit areas
Storms douse some of Australia's bushfire-hit areas

Parts of Australia's east coast were hit by severe storms on Saturday, dousing some of the bushfires that have devastated the region for months but causing road closures and flash flooding.

Lauren Anthony reports.

Australia has been subjected to months of rampant bushfires... So the sound of rain in some of the worst hit areas is, for many, a welcome one.

But much of the east coast experienced severe storms on Saturday (January 18).

And although the weather has doused some of the blazes - it has also brought flash flooding, and subsequent road closures.

Major highways were shut in Queensland - with the state getting some of the heaviest rain Australia has seen for months.

Power was out in parts of New South Wales after a very stormy night.

Many residents feel relieved regardless.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT MEG FALLON, SAYING: "We had lots of rolling thunder and some huge big strike of thunder, didn't see any lightning.

But it's, it's just beautiful listening to it though, listening to it on the roof.

It's a long time since we had it so we're enjoying it." Wildlife too made the most of the wet weather, with one koala licking rainwater off the road.

Though the heavy rain has proven welcome respite from the relentless fires and heat, authorities were still battling nearly 100 blazes.

The fires have torn through more than 2,500 homes, and scorched an area nearly one-third of the size of Germany.

You might like