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Sydney blanketed by smoke from Australia fires | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Heavy smoke has covered Australia's largest city, Sydney, as scores of bushfires rage across the region. | |
Strong winds brought smoke overnight from an inland blaze north of the city, pushing Sydney's air quality to beyond "hazardous" levels, officials said. | Strong winds brought smoke overnight from an inland blaze north of the city, pushing Sydney's air quality to beyond "hazardous" levels, officials said. |
On social media, locals described waking up to hazy skies and the stench of smoke in their homes. | On social media, locals described waking up to hazy skies and the stench of smoke in their homes. |
About five million people live in the state capital of New South Wales, which has been affected for weeks by fires. | About five million people live in the state capital of New South Wales, which has been affected for weeks by fires. |
Six people have died in bushfires in the north of the state since October. | Six people have died in bushfires in the north of the state since October. |
Sydney residents were warned about severe fire danger on Tuesday, as temperatures looked to soar to 37C (98.6F) in parts of the city. | Sydney residents were warned about severe fire danger on Tuesday, as temperatures looked to soar to 37C (98.6F) in parts of the city. |
Health officials advised people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous activity. New South Wales Ambulance service said those with respiratory issues should "take extra care". | Health officials advised people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous activity. New South Wales Ambulance service said those with respiratory issues should "take extra care". |
"The smoke is likely to hang around for the next few days," warned the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. | "The smoke is likely to hang around for the next few days," warned the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. |
Last week, Sydney faced unprecedented bushfire danger when blazes hit its suburbs and parts of its outskirts. | |
Authorities said the source of the smoke on Tuesday came from a blaze in Wollemi National Park, 150km (93 miles) north-west of the city, which had grown to 150,000 hectares in size. | |
Fire officials warned that hot and windy conditions could exacerbate blazes on Tuesday. | |
Massive bushfires continue to burn in populated coastal and inland regions to the city's north. Many of those areas have experienced poor air quality for weeks. |