‘No good skin left’: Aussie’s NZ volcano ordeal
An Australian woman says she screamed into a gas mask while being burned by ash after the New Zealand volcano eruption that killed 22 people.
disaster (general)
Disaster duty undermines key defence force role: report
Calling on defence forces to help with disaster recovery undermines their ability to protect the nation in the face of growing risks, a major review has found.
Flood victims waiting for Qld rivers to fully recede
A tiny community is still under water in northwest Queensland as locals elsewhere in the region begin to count the cost of record floods.
Floodwaters ‘as far as eye can see’ hamper recovery
Flooding continues across Queensland's northwest with many communities facing the prospect of severe damage to their homes as well as stock losses.
Power cut off in northwest Queensland as floods rise
Rain continues to fall across large parts of Queensland, with evacuations under way as the northwest grapples with its worst floods in years.
New head appointed at disaster recovery agency
The Queensland government has appointed a familiar face to lead the state's disaster recovery agency following the departure of chief executive Brendan Moon.
Kids in ‘deep loss and grief’ after NSW and Qld floods
Country kids' charity Royal Far West is rolling out wellbeing programs in NSW and Queensland schools to help traumatised children in disaster zones.
Race to contain Qld bushfires as heatwave looms
Emergency warnings are in place for residents to the north of the Queensland town of Miles as firefighters try to bring large bushfires under control.
Residents prepared to leave as Queensland fires rage
Firefighters have told about 220 residents near Miles, 300km northwest of Brisbane, to monitor conditions as they try to contain a major bushfire.
Firefighters race to contain blazes in rural Queensland
Residents to the north of the Queensland town of Miles are on alert as firefighters try to bring a large bushfire under control.
Three rescued from floodwater in north Qld
Three women are being treated in hospital after they were found clinging to a tree in floodwater in north Queensland.
NSW towns bracing for wet, stormy weekend
Flood-impacted towns across New South Wales are on high alert as thunderstorms begin creeping through the state ahead of forecast downpours over the weekend.
The long-lasting tail of flood devastation
While flood waters come and go across rural Australia, they expose lingering financial, emotional and physical scars.
NSW faces ‘very dangerous’ 48 hours
With new weather systems closing in on NSW, residents across the state are being warned rain and floods pose massive risks to lives and homes.
Flood levees tested as Vic rivers rise
Flood waters have peaked in the cut-off northern Victorian town of Kerang, while Echuca residents brace for the Murray River to hit its high.
Levees tested as Vic flood peaks arrive
Flood waters have peaked in the cut-off northern Victorian town of Kerang, while Echuca residents brace for the Murray River to hit its high.
Brisbane dam releases water in flood plans
The Queensland government has authorised Wivenhoe Dam operators to release drinking water into the Brisbane River in preparation for possible floods.
Bali bombing victims mourned 20 years on
The nation is remembering the 202 people, including 88 Australians, killed in the Bali bombings two decades ago.
NSW premier wants Warragamba Dam raised
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has praised a world-leading flood mitigation system just outside of Tokyo, but says it wouldn't work in Sydney.
Recovery head steps down amid overhaul
Disaster recovery head Shane Stone will step down from the role as the government announces plans to create a new agency.
ATO targets GST scams, recovers $1 billion
People attempting to trick the Australian Taxation Office with a GST scam are being warned they are not "anonymous" and could potentially face time behind bars.
Drones and tech keeping track of koalas
A hi-tech plan to generate big data sets will help protect Australian wildlife from disasters like the Black Summer bushfires.
Qld’s ‘gutwrenching’ cleanup is underway
Floodwaters are slowly receding across Queensland with the gutwrenching clean up and recovery underway.
Qld launches $741m flooded home program
Queenslanders whose homes were damaged by recent floods can register for grants to raise, repair, retrofit or have their home voluntarily bought back.
Flood recovery to exceed $6 billion
Disaster support for flood-affected communities is likely to exceed $6 billion, with $1.29 billion paid out to individuals, according to the treasurer.
Councils want $200m to disaster-proof
Local councils are calling for $200 million a year in the federal budget for disaster mitigation, along with additional funds to address climate change.
Flood fund systems failed: NSW treasurer
Disaster funding structures have failed many flood-affected communities with a new system required to address the devastation, the NSW Treasurer says.
Rain brings more flooding as NSW cleans up
Heavy rain in NSW is causing renewed flooding in regions where waters had begun receding as the mammoth clean-up task continues.
NSW flood damage hard to convey: Perrottet
The premier has pledged to spare no expense in helping northern NSW recover from devastating floods, saying images "do not do justice" to the region's carnage.
Flood grants as Qld faces climate reality
As Queensland unveils a half-a-billion dollar flood relief package, leaders weigh how the state can adapt to a reality of more frequent natural disasters.
Missing man’s body found in Qld flood zone
A man's body has been found under a wharf in Brisbane, taking the death toll from devastating floods in southeast Queensland to 10.