Fires contained in hard-hit Australia state, but now floods threaten:
All the blazes in Australia's hard-hit state of New South Wales have been brought under control, firefighters said on Thursday, signalling the end of a "black summer" that claimed 33 lives nationwide.
But heavy rains that helped extinguish the blazes that have raged along the east coast since September are causing flash floods in parts of the state, posing new problems for some residents.
"Not all fires are out, there's still some fire activity in the far south of the state but all fires are contained so we can really focus on helping people rebuild," the state's fire service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said on Twitter.
[...] Bushfires scorched more than 10 million hectares in the country's east and south, killing at least 33 people and an estimated one billion animals, while destroying more than 2,500 homes.
[...] Days of recent rainfall have extinguished the largest fires and brought those that remain under control.
In the Australian Capital Territory around Canberra firefighters are still trying to bring one blaze under control, but it was not said to be threatening.
Attention has now turned to tackling flash flooding expected in the coming days following the heaviest rains in 30 years.
On Thursday dams near Sydney overflowed after days of torrential rain, a spectacular reversal from months of drought. The Nepean dam was just a third full less than a week ago, but on Thursday video footage showing water cascading over the dam wall. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters in recent days.
More Information:
Dams overflow as Australia braces for more floods:
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:19AM (7 children)
Good thing the fire took out some of these criminals, but not sure all the dropbear deaths were worth it.
Should have tactically nuked it from the orbit.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:49AM (6 children)
Nuking it from orbit would also have killed the dropbears.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:54AM (2 children)
That's why I snuck in "tactically", laser-guided pinpoint nuke like bunker busters - "Kills'em Criminals Superdead - Zombie-proof(TM)."
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday February 16 2020, @10:16PM (1 child)
Zombie proof? Why would you want that?
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Sunday February 16 2020, @11:02PM
Wouldn't even need it. Add zombies to the mix? That's just ONE more thing to worry about - laughably below noise level.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday February 16 2020, @01:30AM
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @02:11AM
That's what the dropbears want you to think...
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Sunday February 16 2020, @03:35AM
FTFY.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:26AM (5 children)
Flood - check
So famine and disease - covid19? Could cause both.
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 16 2020, @05:17AM (4 children)
Hold steady for locusts [agriculture.gov.au] first. Last major plagues [abc.net.au] happened after the Millennium drought [wikipedia.org] broke - the fuckers need wet weather to hatch [abc.net.au], but when they get it, they take and run with it.
Got into a swarm while driving - I'll let aside the pleasure to stop and clean the overloaded windshield wipers, but 'twas nasty business to unclog the radiator mask. Yeap, very much like this while driving [thenewhumanitarian.org], and like this when you get home [abc.net.au].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Sunday February 16 2020, @02:16PM (2 children)
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @09:22PM (1 child)
Not gonna pity the stupid.
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Sunday February 16 2020, @10:38PM
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @08:13PM
Famine headlines should be coming any day now. However, they apparently did not get the news you are supposed to eat the insects. When it rain s locusts make locusts pie
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Gaaark on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:39AM (8 children)
Look at all the fire Bruce!
Shame, Bruce. Real shame. Have a Fosters, Bruce!
I've had 6 already, Bruce. Hey, here comes Bruce!
G'day Bruce
G'day Bruce
Have a Fosters, Bruce.
Gotta pee, Bruce.
Gotta pee, Bruce.
Gotta pee, Bruce.
Look at all the water, Bruce.
Too much water Bruce.
Gotta pee again Bruce.
Fires under control Bruce.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Sunday February 16 2020, @12:48AM (7 children)
I miss MDC.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Gaaark on Sunday February 16 2020, @01:04AM (6 children)
yup.
I didn't understand his mental problems and how far off he was going. Wish he was still around. So much nicer 'talking' to him than some of the 'asshats' here with not a kind word for anyone.
YES...you all know who you are.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @02:13AM (5 children)
I love you, man. Yes, even if you are a hippie.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @02:54AM (1 child)
Birdboy, you has got to draw a line. Hippie? A whiteboy with dreadlock and shit? That's too goddamn wrong.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @03:58AM
Dude, I'm not twelve like your dumb ass. I regularly associate with honest to god 60s hippies on a weekly basis. And, frankly, it's seriously insulting to them to call anyone born after the 80s a hippie, so I should probably stop that.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 16 2020, @05:28AM (2 children)
I'm all in for war substitutes, but a buzzard lover is a bit excessive to my taste.
Gonna pick the hair [wikipedia.org] path, if you don't mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @05:33AM (1 child)
Rum may have been a factor in my previous statement.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Sunday February 16 2020, @06:12AM
Maybe, but I think you were just being nice too.
It is a nice gesture, and we could probably use more of it.
So, I love you too, man :)
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday February 16 2020, @01:26AM
Nothing but lots and lots and lots and lots of rain, Sir.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 16 2020, @03:33AM
No more shrimp on the barbie for you.
(Score: 3, Informative) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Sunday February 16 2020, @03:46AM
It's just another day... [youtube.com]
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @04:14AM (2 children)
I guess they can dance now then.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 16 2020, @05:40AM (1 child)
More like running like hell when the dam springs a leak [abc.net.au]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 16 2020, @06:19AM
Well, their beds aren't burning anymore, so they got no excuses as far as I'm concerned.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Sunday February 16 2020, @08:45AM
Still 22 fires burning, just now they are all under control [nsw.gov.au]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Sunday February 16 2020, @01:55PM (2 children)
there might be an upside to all the rain. in the West when it rained after a robust summer forest fire season mushrooms would spring up everywhere. morels, shaggymanes, and more. we just ate what we collected but others dried and sold them for good money.
maybe it might work that way in Australia, too.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @02:06AM
Most of our mushrooms will kill you.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @04:14AM
For Australia I'd recommend a heroic amount of psilocybin mushrooms and entering a berserker rage to fight off the local fauna.