Seven children remain in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne two days after their school bus rolled when it was hit by a truck in a horror crash

The children, who are aged between five and 11, are all now in a stable condition, despite having life-changing injuries including amputations.

Another 11 children were also taken to hospitals after the crash near the intersection of Exford Road and Murphys Road at Eynesbury at about 3.40pm on Tuesday.

Passing drivers, tradies and teachers rushed to rescue and comfort the 45 children involved in the "horrific" crash on their way home from school, with tradie Dean Eastway one of the first on the scene.

READ MORE: Truck driver bailed over serious school bus crash in Melbourne's west

'Heaps of screaming': Actions of passers-by hailed as heroic

Eastway, along with several others, worked to pull kids out of the bus shortly after it overturned.

He described the situation as "absolutely terrible".

"There was heaps of screaming, the kids were wanting to get out of there and they were just pinned down," Eastway said.

Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse described the actions of the passersby as "heroic".

"To have acted the way they did is really admirable," he said.

"It was a horrific scene and it was really chaotic."

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The bus had only just left Exford Primary School and was just 900m away when the crash occurred.

"It's unimaginable to imagine that the children were in their classrooms and such a short time later so seriously injured so close to school," Cruse said.

He said the bus driver, who was injured himself, also helped to get children out of the bus.

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Exford Primary School principal Liza Campo said most teachers rushed to the crash site upon hearing of the incident, while others stayed at the school to manage it from there, and that she did not expect to find as serious of a scene as they did.

"Our staff just instinctively wrapped their arms around the kids and provided love and support in a really difficult situation," she said.

Cruse said it was important drivers had conversations about road safety following the "avoidable" crash.

"Some of the injuries are truly life-changing – and this incident was avoidable, as are so many of the incidents that police and emergency services attend to."

Cruse said "inattention is something that (police) are actively looking at as part of the investigation", while more charges are expected to be laid.

"It was avoidable," he claimed.

The bus was attempting to turn right onto Murphys Road when the truck collided with the rear of the bus, causing "significant" damage, he said.

The 49-year-old truck driver, who stopped at the scene, was yesterday afternoon charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury over the crash.

Jamie Gleeson, 49, from Balliang East, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday, where was granted bail.

The truck company, L & J Cartage, has this morning released a statement about the "very distressing" incident.

"Our hearts go out to everyone involved, especially the children and their families. We are deeply shocked and saddened at what has happened," a spokesperson said.

The company confirmed Gleeson was on his way home, having been driving trucks for more than 20 years, and with L & J Cartage for more than 15 years.

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'Horrific injuries': Seven kids remain in serious condition

Royal Children's Hospital chief executive officer Bernadette McDonald yesterday morning said she was surprised all children survived the horrific accident.

Nine children aged between five and 11 were rushed to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

"The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries, including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries," she said.

An emergency Code Brown was enacted at the hospital on Tuesday night to deal with the bus crash victims.

McDonald said the children's parents were not able to be reunited with them until the early hours of the morning.

"It will be a long journey for these children and their families," McDonald said. 

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Parents were offered accommodation at the hospital overnight.

Locals have told 3AW the stretch of road where the crash occurred is a problem area and needs urgent attention.

Chelsea, an Eynesbury local and paramedic, told 3AW she's "been saying for years" there would be horrific crashes on that stretch of road, while truck driver Joe said he's seen some appalling behaviour by drivers there.

Premier Daniel Andrews praised first responders, teachers and hospital staff for their response to the "deeply distressing incident" while speaking to media this morning.

"What an amazing school community," he said.

Andrews said the government would support the school in any way possible.

'Speed often an issue'

Local residents say they're horrified but not surprised a collision like this has happened on Exford Road.

The speed zone out the front of the school is 60km/h, but quickly goes up to 100km/h.

Kim Jovanello said speed was often an issue on the road.

"You really have to slow down," she said.

"You have got people dropping off their kids, coming in and out of school.

"Something needs to be done."

A Department of Education spokesperson has also said the department's thoughts are with the students, families and staff involved.

"We acknowledge the response from the principal and staff at Exford Primary School, who all attended the scene and ensured every child involved was supported and looked after," the spokesperson said.

"The Department will continue to extend all resources to support students, staff and families."

Eynesbury is located about 44km from Melbourne, near Melton.

Exford Primary School is a coeducational school for years prep to six with 279 students enrolled.

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We're all well acquainted with weather system La Niña, and many people may have heard of her cousin, El Niño, but now it's time to introduce another name set to make life uncomfortable for Aussies: SAM.

The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is one of the "main mechanisms influencing our climate" and meteorologists say it's just reached one of its strongest positive levels on record.

An index that measures the north-south displacement of the westerly winds that flow between Australia and Antarctica, SAM carries the "cold fronts and low pressure systems that bring seasonal rain, snow and wind to southern Australia".

READ MORE: Warm or cold, snow or no: What can Australians expect this winter?

When the SAM is in a positive phase – as it is now – the belt of circumpolar westerly winds seeps away from Antarctica and heads towards Australia, meaning rain and snow-bearing cold fronts and easterly winds are set to increase over the nation's east.

"This typically reduces rainfall and snowfall over parts of southern Australia and allows more rain to fall in parts of Queensland and New South Wales," Weatherzone said.

"There has been an observed trend towards more positive phases of the SAM in recent decades.

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"So, while this week's strong positive phase may be short-lived, we may see more positive swings of the SAM in the coming weeks and months."

The announcement comes as the Bureau of Meteorology issued severe weather warnings up and down the eastern seaboard for intense marine winds.

Residents in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania have all been put on alert over the winds, which are forecast to be particularly strong in coastal areas.

Meanwhile, our Kiwi neighbours are set to cop a battering headed into the weekend, with "several days of severe weather about to lash parts of New Zealand as a powerful low pressure system, and associated front, barrel across the country between Thursday and Saturday."

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"A low pressure system that formed near southeast Queensland earlier this week is expected to gain strength as it crosses the Tasman Sea on Wednesday and Thursday," Weatherzone said.

"Prior to the arrival of this dangerous weather system, a slow-moving low pressure trough will cause heavy rain and snow over parts of the South Island on Wednesday into Thursday.

"This South Island soaking will be followed by several days of severe weather in New Zealand's North Island and parts of the South Island."

Back on home soil, Sydney's metro will reach a chilly top of 16 degrees today, with lows of just seven, while in Melbourne it's expected to reach just 13 degrees today with lows of seven.

In Brisbane city, a pleasant 22 degrees is expected, in both Adelaide and Canberra, it'll be just 14 today, while in Perth, residents will enjoy a balmy 26 degrees with lows of 12.

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Experts are warning Australia could soon see a repeat of the conditions that sparked 2019-20's devastating bushfire season, as our planet is almost certain to set a new hottest year on record in the next half-decade.

A newly released report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the United Nations' weather and climate body, says there is a 98 per cent chance that Earth will set a new record for the hottest year in recorded history by 2027.

The report goes on to state that, in the same period, there is a 66 per cent chance that global surface temperatures will temporarily exceed 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels for at least one year.

READ MORE: Truck driver bailed over serious school bus crash in Melbourne's west

That 1.5-degree increase is a long-feared mark that was listed as a target that global warming must be limited to under the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement.

While a temporary breach of the mark doesn't mean the world will have failed to meet the target, the WMO said it is sounding the alarm that it will be breached more and more frequently.

The release of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, and the increasing likelihood of an El Niño developing this year, are the driving factors behind the temperature increases.

"A warming El Niño is expected to develop in the coming months and this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory," WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said.

"This will have far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management and the environment.

"We need to be prepared."

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Dr Hamish Clarke, a research fellow in future fire risk at the University of Melbourne, said the report painted a bleak picture of future Australian bushfire seasons and droughts.

"When it comes to bushfire risk, the news that there is a 98 per cent chance of setting a new global temperature record in the next five years is extremely worrying," he said.

"High temperatures are one of the key ingredients for dangerous fire weather, along with dry and windy conditions.

"As temperatures continue to rise, there is more chance of them coinciding with extended dry spells and droughts."

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Other experts speaking about the report also expressed their concern about the likelihood of drought, while Monash University's Dr Kimberley Reid said it flagged particularly dire news for one of Australia's most iconic natural wonders.

"In order for one of the next five years to not be record-breaking, we would either need no El Niño events in the next five years, or a massive volcanic eruption in the tropics, à la Krakatoa in 1883," Reid said.

"Both are extremely unlikely scenarios.

"My biggest fear is that we become desensitised to the ever-falling records and forget what these numbers actually mean.

"1.5 degrees warming means the Great Barrier Reef probably won't survive this century. That's tragic."

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Clarke, meanwhile, said the report highlighted the need for more urgent action to reduce emissions and limit the extent of climate change.

"If we continue on our current path there is a real possibility of a repeat – or worse – of the conditions that led to the devastating Black Summer fires of 2019-20," he said.

"There is still time to avoid the worst climate change projections but it means taking much more action than we currently are."

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Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller announced he would not seek re-election earlier this year.

It comes as the exiled government’s human rights minister visits NZ for the first time.

Fed-up business owners have released footage of teenagers attacking one of their staff members in broad daylight on the Gold Coast.

The vision shows security guard Mick Gauci being approached at a Harbour Town chemist in front of customers and staff during an incident that took place in March.

Chemist manager Gema Hall said she was "shouting for help", while others tried to step in to stop the situation.

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"I was thinking, you know, how can I help Mick," Hall said.

Gauci said he had to go to hospital for a check-up following the incident.

"(I had) bruises and cuts to the back because I was pushed into a display," he said.

"A few bumps to the head from being kicked in the back of the head."

Earlier the security guard had accused two teenage girls of shoplifting and it was their boyfriends who allegedly attacked the guard a short time later.

Three teenagers were charged over the incident in late March, while a fourth was cautioned.

"I think everybody's feeling unsafe in the community, unfortunately," Hall said.

Staff at the store see incidents of shoplifting regularly but violent incidents are rare.

The business released the footage to show the brazen nature of some members of the community.

State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli described the vision as something that "should not be part of a modern Queensland".

Residents on Brisbane's north side have also released security footage to highlight escalating incidents of youth crime.

In videos shared with 9News, teenagers struck the same streets of Bridgeman Downs several times, despite a police presence in the area.

A police officer's home was also targeted in the last few weeks.

Vulgar messages were left in graffiti on the officer's personal belongings during the incident.

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A truck driver involved in a serious school bus crash involving 45 children west of Melbourne yesterday has been granted bail.

Jamie Gleeson, 49, from Balliang East, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court today, where he faced four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury over the crash at Eynesbury.

The crash occurred while the children were heading home from Exford Primary School, near the intersection of Exford Road and Murphys Road.

READ MORE: Seven children in serious condition after horror school bus crash west of Melbourne

It's alleged Gleeson was behind the wheel of a truck that collided with a school bus carrying 45 students from Exford Primary School.

Prosecutor Ben Kerlin said the bus driver had noticed the truck approaching quickly from behind before it was struck about 3.40pm.

Gleeson, a truck driver for 18 years, told police he would normally "take it easy" in school zones and was accelerating out of the 60km/h zone outside Exford Primary School when he noticed flashes of sunlight coming through the trees.

He said he hit the brakes after seeing the brake lights on the bus in front of him, but he didn't have enough time to stop before hitting the back.

"If I could have swerved around it I would have," he told officers during his interview with police on Wednesday morning.

His lawyer said this was Gleeson's first time in custody and he had no prior driving or other criminal matters.

Magistrate Andrew McKenna agreed to grant bail for Gleeson, noting there would be a delay in bringing the case to court.

Prosecutors have asked for 16 weeks to prepare the brief of evidence against him, given the size of the collision scene and the number of children who will need to be interviewed.

McKenna said Gleeson had co-operated with police at the scene.

The father-of-two's bail conditions include that he not drive a heavy vehicle.

Police earlier told reporters there would "likely be more charges" laid against a truck driver after a school bus carrying 45 children overturned west of Melbourne yesterday, leaving some with serious injuries.

Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse said the investigation was continuing into the crash.

He said "speed would be considered" as part of the investigation.

"It's sort of unimaginable. The children were in their classrooms and just a short time later were seriously injured so close to school," Cruse said.

Seven children remain in serious conditions at the Royal Children's Hospital with "life-changing" injuries.

Royal Children's Hospital chief executive officer Bernadette McDonald said the children had suffered multiple and traumatic injuries, including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to the head and body, and head injuries.

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The bus driver, a 52-year-old Melton West man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The charges against Gleeson specifically relate to four children – two each aged nine and 10.

Wearing an orange and blue hi-vis shirt, Gleeson sat with his hands crossed in his lap while appearing by video-link from Sunshine.

Eynesbury is about 44km from Melbourne, near Melton, and the crash occurred near Exford Primary School.

Exford Primary School is a coeducational school for years prep to six with 279 students enrolled.

Gleeson is due back in court for a committal mention on October 18.

– Reported with AAP

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Principal says off-site school visits were paused immediately after last student’s death.

An overturned boat has been found in the area Australian and international crews are searching for a Chinese fishing vessel, which went missing off Perth's coast reportedly carrying almost 40 people.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority received a distress signal at 5:30am yesterday and continued to coordinate the search today.

Reports on Wednesday said 39 people were missing more than 24 hours after the Chinese fishing boat operating in the Indian Ocean capsized.

READ MORE: Seven children in serious condition after horror school bus crash west of Melbourne

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the accident happened about 3am (5am AEST) Tuesday.

The report said the crew includes 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines.

AMSA described the search area as a remote location in the Indian Ocean, about 5000 kilometres north-west of Perth.

"Late yesterday bulk carrier Navios Taurus sighted an upturned hull in the search area. No survivors have been found as yet," AMSA said in a statement.

"The Australian Defence Force aircraft will return to the search area today after refuelling overnight."

"Weather conditions yesterday were extreme with 120km/h winds and seven-metre seas. Conditions have abated today with 40–50km/h winds and two–three-metre seas."

The Australian Defence Force also provided a P-8A Poseidon aircraft to assist in the search for survivors. 

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang have ordered Chinese diplomats abroad, as well as the agriculture and transportation ministries, to assist in the search for survivors.

“All-out efforts” must be made in the rescue operation, Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Li ordered unspecified measures to “reduce casualties and strengthen safety management of fishing vessels at sea to ensure safe maritime transport and production,” Xinhua said.

No word was given on the cause of the capsizing.

Indonesia and the Philippines have also expressed their willingness to join in the search.

The Philippine Coast Guard Command Centre said Wednesday it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Chinese Embassy in Manila, as well as search and rescue teams operating near the vessel’s last known location.

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Merchant and fishing vessels in the area were also searching for survivors Wednesday.

A Perth-based Challenger rescue aircraft will drop a buoy to help with drift modelling to further assist in the search, the agency said.

The Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 was based in the eastern coastal province of Shandong, operated by the Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co Ltd, according to reports.

Another Chinese vessel, Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018, is operating near to the upturned hull and has been asked to conduct a grid search for survivors, according to the Indonesian agency.

China is believed to operate the world’s largest fishing fleet. Many of them stay at sea for months or even years at a time, supported by Chinese state maritime security agencies and a sprawling network of support vessels.

Chinese squid fishing ships have been documented using wide nets to illegally catch already overfished tuna as part of a surge in unregulated activity in the Indian Ocean, according to a report released in 2021.

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Norway-based watchdog group Trygg Mat Tracking found that the number of squid vessels in the high seas of the Indian Ocean — where fishing of the species is not regulated — has increased six-fold since 2016.

The US Coast Guard was also involved in a dangerous confrontation with Chinese vessels not far from Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands in 2022 during a mission to inspect the vessels for any signs of illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.

Chinese fishing vessels operating illegally are known to sail "dark," with their mandatory tracking device that gives a ship’s position either switched off, transmitting intermittently, or providing false identifiers.

– Reported with the Associated Press

A Black Caps legend was among the top cricketers to visit local kids.