Australia Extreme Weather: Nation hit by wildfires, cyclones, flooding
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Australia is in the midst of several extreme weather events. Firefighters from two eastern states are battling massive wildfires. Other parts of the country saw record-setting temperatures, cyclones, and widespread flooding - all within one week. Greg Navarro has more.
Firefighters in the New South Wales coastal town of Tathra say extremely dry conditions are fuelling a massive wildfire that spans more than a thousand hectares, and has consumed at least 70 homes so far.
Fire victim -"We felt threatened, we were worried. But there wasn't any sign that Tathra itself was on fire but when that happened, it escalated very fast."
In Victoria, another 18 homes destroyed, scores of people evacuated in the state's worst bushfire of the season.
The hot dry conditions to the south follow massive flooding to the north. Parts of northern Queensland hit by a cyclone last year - were underwater again, after record rains washed through the area.
ANASTASIA PALASZCZUK QUEENSLAND PREMIER "They're very resilient here and people are very positive. They said we've done this before, we'll get through it."
Boats were the only mode of transportation available to evacuate people in towns completely cut off by flood waters. In Australia's top end, the clean is underway after tropical cyclone Marcus blew through as a category 2 storm - the most powerful to hit Darwin in 30 years. Wind gusts of 130 kilometres an hour tossed and toppled trees and proved a formidable foe to people who chose to venture outside. Days later, crews were still trying to restore power for thousands of people.
GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "And here in Sydney, we just struggled through the city's hottest Autumn day in almost 80 years, with temperatures in some areas topping 40 degrees celsius."
In Tathra, firefighters fear the number of homes destroyed here will continue to climb. Before rain is forecasted to fall later in the week. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.