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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Desert dust storm chokes Sydney | Desert dust storm chokes Sydney |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Australia's biggest city, Sydney, has been shrouded in red dust blown in by winds from the deserts of the outback. | Australia's biggest city, Sydney, has been shrouded in red dust blown in by winds from the deserts of the outback. |
| Visibility is so bad that international flights have been diverted and harbour ferry traffic disrupted. | Visibility is so bad that international flights have been diverted and harbour ferry traffic disrupted. |
| Emergency services reported a surge in calls from people suffering breathing problems. Children and the elderly have been told to stay indoors. | Emergency services reported a surge in calls from people suffering breathing problems. Children and the elderly have been told to stay indoors. |
| Sydney's landmarks, including the Opera House, have been obscured, and many residents are wearing masks. | Sydney's landmarks, including the Opera House, have been obscured, and many residents are wearing masks. |
| Traffic has been bumper-to-bumper on major roads. | Traffic has been bumper-to-bumper on major roads. |
| I'm 72 years old and I've never seen that in my life before Sydney resident Your pictures: Sydney dust storm | |
| The dust blanketing eastern parts of New South Wales has been carried by powerful winds that snatched up tons of topsoil from the drought-ravaged west of the state. | The dust blanketing eastern parts of New South Wales has been carried by powerful winds that snatched up tons of topsoil from the drought-ravaged west of the state. |
| One Sydney resident told the Associated Press news agency: "The colour was amazing... I'm 72 years old and I've never seen that in my life before." | |
| The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned of "widespread damaging winds" in Sydney and other areas, as gusts of 65km/h (40mph) hit the city. | The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned of "widespread damaging winds" in Sydney and other areas, as gusts of 65km/h (40mph) hit the city. |
| Forecasters predicted the winds would weaken later on Wednesday. | Forecasters predicted the winds would weaken later on Wednesday. |
| The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says it has been a difficult 24 hours for Australia, which has been hit by earthquakes, hail storms and bushfires. | The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says it has been a difficult 24 hours for Australia, which has been hit by earthquakes, hail storms and bushfires. |
| In parts of New South Wales, huge hail stones whipped up by thunderstorms smashed windows and sent residents running for cover. | In parts of New South Wales, huge hail stones whipped up by thunderstorms smashed windows and sent residents running for cover. |
| Further north in Queensland, officials banned open fires in many areas when bushfires sprang up after a spell of hot, dry weather. | Further north in Queensland, officials banned open fires in many areas when bushfires sprang up after a spell of hot, dry weather. |
| Two minor earthquakes hit Victoria state on Tuesday, and heavy rains that followed led officials to issue a warning of flash floods. | Two minor earthquakes hit Victoria state on Tuesday, and heavy rains that followed led officials to issue a warning of flash floods. |