Eastern Australia braces for bushfires and thunderstorms, prompting health risk warnings

Leading into the weekend, Australia’s eastern states are facing mass severe weather warnings and are on high alert for thunderstorm asthma, bushfires, dust storms and damaging winds.

Smoke from the Pierces Creek blaze
continues to tower over Canberra trees.

Emergency crews began door-knocking residents in Canberra on Friday in a pre-emptive move to alert homeowners living near an out-of-control bushfire southwest of Canberra.

A school was evacuated as firefighters fought a 113-hectare bushfire at Pierce Creek, 8 kilometres from the nearest suburb.

Emergency Services Commissioner Dominic Lane said winds are expected to pick up, making it difficult for firefighters to stop the blaze from spreading as it heads in a southeasterly direction.

Read The New Daily story - “Eastern Australia braces for bushfires and thunderstorms, prompting health risk warnings.”

Thunderstorm asthma: 'You're talking an event equivalent to a terrorist attack'

‘A perfect storm of factors that triggered a mass asthma event and claimed at least six lives in Melbourne has perplexed health experts, who believe climate change may be the missing piece in the puzzle’

Melissa Davey.

A sudden drop in temperature in Melbourne on Monday evening from peaks of 35C brought with it severe thunderstorms and triggered a mass asthma event that left hospitals struggling to treat 8,500 patients.

There is a small group of researchers around the world working to understand the phenomena known as “thunderstorm asthma”, which although rare, can have devastating consequences. Climate change, they say, may be where part of the blame lies.

On Sunday 20 people remained in hospitals across Victoria, struggling with respiratory and related conditions, while four remained in critical condition. At least six people are known to have died after their asthma was triggered during the thunderstorm, the health department confirmed over the weekend.

Read Melissa Davey’s story on The Guardian - “Thunderstorm asthma: 'You're talking an event equivalent to a terrorist attack'.”