Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Typhoon forces millions to evacuate in Japan

About two million people in southwestern Japan have been ordered to evacuate ahead of a powerful typhoon forecast to hit the region on Sunday, according to public broadcaster NHK-World Japan.

The typhoon is forecast to hit southern Kyushu, one of Japan's southwest islands, specifically within Kagoshima Prefecture.

"Weather officials have issued an emergency warning for violent winds, high waves and a storm surge for Kagoshima Prefecture," NHK reported.

READ MORE: Man charged after allegedly rushing at Queen's coffin

Residents in 965,000 households have been ordered to evacuate across the seaside cities of Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Amakusa.

A level five alert, the highest on Japan's disaster warning scale, was issued to more than 14,000 people in the city of Nishinoomote on Kyushu island, NHK reported.

"There is a possibility that it will be record heavy rain and an emergency heavy rain warning will be announced," said Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA).

"The highest level of vigilance is required for rising water levels and flooding of rivers, landslide disasters, and flooding of lowlands."

READ MORE: Fourth man charged over fatal Brisbane stabbing

Ryuta Kurora, a JMA official, warned on Saturday that strong winds could cause houses to collapse. Kurora urged residents to evacuate before the storm hit to escape the risk of landslides and flooding.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have already cancelled at least 335 flights that were scheduled to depart from or arrive at airports in Japan on Sunday, according to NHK.

"The eye of Typhoon Nanmadol is clearly visible in satellite images. The typhoon has developed rapidly since Friday night," NHK reported.

headline

Moment car crashes into petrol station, flips multiple times

Dramatic footage has captured the moment a speeding car lost control and smashed into a Melbourne petrol station overnight.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was turning a corner on Coora Road in Oakleigh South at 4.35am this morning when he lost control of the vehicle, crashed into the station and flipped multiple times.

CCTV shows the vehicle tearing around the bend, before mounting the sidewalk and slamming into a petrol bowser, completely smashing everything in its path.

READ MORE: 'Like a bang': Minor earthquake shakes Melbourne's south-east

Victoria Police say the man – who is lucky to be alive – suffered multiple upper-body injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

READ MORE: Fourth man charged over fatal Brisbane stabbing

He was later transported in a stable condition to the Alfred Hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the incident has been launched.

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NSW RFS unveils new weapon in fight against bushfires

Although Australia is set for yet another La Niña battering in the upcoming months, the threat of serious bushfires remains in vulnerable parts of the country.

With all the heavy rainfall that's hammered the east coast, a subsequent "large amount of growth" in grassland areas has also followed, meaning there's still a significant risk of danger on those hot summer days.

Many regions are still recovering from the devastating Black Summer blazes of 2019 and now, the RFS has unveiled a new weapon in the fight.

In fact, they've got 80.

READ MORE: Man charged after allegedly rushing at Queen's coffin

The weapon? Grazing goats.

"RFS was prompted to look at a range of alternate hazard reduction methods, one of them being grazing – and goats are known for wanting to have a go at anything," Troy Gersback, RFS firefighter and inspector, told Weekend Today.

"It seemed like the most reasonable and logical solution to put them in the field.

"It's a fantastic technique that we are using here that is really allowing the RFS to continue its preparations for the community – rain, hail or shine."

The herd, which is currently 80 strong, have been deployed to Mudgee and its surrounds, where they have already munched their way through 16 sites so far.

Grazing goats are actually a popular hazard reduction technique used extensively overseas in the US, Canada and Europe.

READ MORE: Fourth man charged over fatal Brisbane stabbing

Despite the announcement of a record-breaking third consecutive La Niña system, Gersback said that due to the nature of the landscape, the threat of bushfires remains "ever-present".

"The threat is ever-present and we have actually seen that here in the Mudgee region in the last couple of weeks we have had a number of large running grass fires running through paddocks that are in two inches of deep water," he said.

"But yet the grass fires are moving across the dry grassland on top. The potential is certainly there and the threat is always still present.

"Unfortunately the rain that we have had has kept that risk at bay, but going into another fire season which starts on October 1, we are only a couple of weeks away we still do see that potential there."

headline

Aussie soldier reveals army preparations for Queen's funeral

Training started almost immediately for the 39 Australian Army personnel who were selected to march as part of the funeral proceedings for Queen Elizabeth II.

It hasn't been an easy task but they were prepared, with the members jumping on one of the first flights to London after hearing of the Monarch's death last week.

Australian Army Brigadier Mick Garraway will be among those marching alongside Australian, Canadian and New Zealand defence force members.

READ MORE: Queen's grandchildren hold vigil at Westminster Hall

"It's a tremendous opportunity and it's a great privilege for us to be involved in this historic event," he told Today.

"Things happened pretty quickly.

"Most of us got the word last Friday and gathered in Sydney and then flew through over here to London. And there's been a lot of rehearsals."

The rehearsal started within 24 hours of personnel arriving, including a 2am before-dawn dress rehearsal at Wellington Barracks near Buckingham Palace.

READ MORE: Poll finds majority of Aussies in favour of remaining a monarchy

"Essentially we have been rehearsing the parade itself after hours here in London, because of the requirement to close streets," Garraway said.

"There has also been rehearsals on a nearby army base. The troops have been working hard to prepare themselves for a style of a drill and style of marching which we don't normally do in Australia.

"The troops have been working really hard."

Those marching include personnel from the Royal Australian Engineers, the Royal Australian Infantry, the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps and the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.

"They have been looking forward to representing their country in this historic event," Garraway said.

READ MORE: King and Prince make surprise visit to the queue

"Together in this environment, for many of us when we deploy in operations we're often away with the Brits, the Canadians and the Kiwis, so it's great to get together in that Commonwealth team and be part of something historic."

The Queen's funeral will begin at 8pm (AEST) on Monday at Westminster Abbey in London.

After the funeral, the coffin will travel in procession to Wellington Arch and then on to Windsor where the Queen will be laid to rest next to her husband, Prince Philip.