Drowning deaths claim two tourists and swimmer
Two tourists have died at a dangerous beach and a man was unable to be revived after being pulled from the water as the summer drowning toll continues to rise.
disaster and accident
Azerbaijan president points finger at Russia for crash
Azerbaijan's president says Russia accidentally shot down their passenger plane, killing 38, and then attempts were made to cover it up.
Bushfire threat finally eases but warnings to last days
An emergency alert has been downgraded for a bushfire that has had communities on edge but the blaze is expected to keep burning for days.
‘Be careful’: safety plea following holiday drownings
A spate of drownings during the festive season has left authorities urging Australians to prioritise safety around the water during the summer holidays.
More Australians on the way home from quake-hit Vanuatu
Two more defence flights will bring stranded Australians home from quake-hit Vanuatu as rescue efforts continue amid severe damage and looming cyclone threats.
Macron booed as he visits Mayotte after deadly cyclone
French President Emmanuel Macron has been booed and jeered in Mayotte, as residents begin cleaning up after Cyclone Chido.
Australians return home as Vanuatu rescues continue
Defence flights have brought home more than 400 Australians but one man still stranded in Vanuatu says the government's response is "slow and inadequate".
Darwin still marked by Cyclone Tracy, 50 years on
Soaring frigatebirds warned of a cyclone that would be Australia's most destructive and put Darwin on the map for the wrong reasons.
Evacuations as fires rage in nation’s east
Evacuation orders are in place for an out-of-control fire in Victoria as blazes and sweltering temperatures begin Australia's bushfire season.
Shaken Vanuatu hit by new quake as Aussies return home
Vanuatu has been hit by another earthquake as Canberra announced more financial assistance and hundreds of Aussies returned home.
Blazes force evacuations amid rising risk of Xmas fires
Firefighters are working around the clock to prepare for sweltering Boxing Day conditions as warnings for several major blazes are downgraded.
Cyclone Chido death toll rises to 94 in Mozambique
The death toll from Cyclone Chido in northern Mozambique has risen to 94, as authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the devastating storm.
Disaster team back home after marathon Vanuatu mission
A Queensland-based team of 66 including paramedics, engineers and firefighters has spent almost a week helping locals following Vanuatu's deadly earthquake.
Ready to burn: travellers urged to reconsider travel
Millions of residents and travellers across the country are being warned to be on high alert as the risk of Christmas-week infernos intensifies.
Christmas inferno fears spark total fire bans
Total fire bans have been declared in two states over the Christmas break as emergency services prepare for the worst conditions since Black Summer.
Australian story: PM remembers 50 years of Tracy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reflected on how Cyclone Tracy impacted the nation on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Darwin being flattened.
Third town told to leave immediately as bushfire rages
Residents in the Grampians towns of Bornes Hill, Moyston and Pomonal have been told to leave immediately and seek shelter as a bushfire threat is imminent.
‘A love story’: rebuilding Darwin after Tracy
Survivors gathered at the shoreline in Darwin at dawn to remember the moment 50 years earlier when Cyclone Tracy made landfall, claiming 66 lives.
Grave fears for boy swept off rocks into sea
A multi-agency search is underway to find a boy swept off rocks and into the sea while with a group of friends on a popular beach.
Wind change fans unpredictable fires as towns evacuated
Dozens of communities have been urged to leave or take shelter as an out-of-control bushfire was fuelled further by gusty winds on a day of extreme conditions.
End of the world: tsunami seared into survivors’ minds
December 26 marks 20 years since a monster earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people including 26 Australians.
Prayers and tears 20 years after the Boxing Day tsunami
Mourners have visited mass graves and held ceremonies in Indonesia, Thailand and beyond to mark two decades since a massive tsunami killed 230,000 people.
Two fighting for life after suspicious house blaze
Three residents are in hospital, with two of them in a critical condition, after a house fire authorities suspect was deliberately lit.
Bushfire rages but cool change a chance to check damage
The threat of bushfires will linger in Victoria's already-scorched Grampians region even after hot and windy conditions move north.
Body of boy found after swept off rocks to sea
Rescuers have found the body of Luca Bennett, his family says, after dolphins were seen circling near where the teen was swept off rocks at a popular beach.
Man dies after bitten by shark while fishing
The man in his 40s has succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a shark while fishing with his family.
Putin apologises for ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan plane crash
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised for the "tragic incident" which resulted in the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in Russian airspace.
Financial help on its way as bushfires hit livelihoods
Farmers, tourism operators and others suffering income loss following a huge bushfire will be eligible for financial support.
S.Korea probes all air operations after plane disaster
South Korea's entire airline system is undergoing an urgent safety check as officials scramble to learn what caused a plane crash that killed 179 people.
‘Scariest moment’: Vanuatu earthquake relief on the way
An estimated 23,000 vulnerable people including those with a disability and children are in urgent need of help after a deadly earthquake rocked Vanuatu.
Major damage in Vanuatu earthquake, deaths feared
A response effort is underway in Port Vila after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu.