Sydney smoke: Residents ‘choking’ on intense bushfire pollution

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A shroud of smoke from Australia’s bushfires has caused chaos in Sydney, bringing dangerous air quality, setting off smoke alarms and ruining visibility in its typically sparkling harbour.

The haze on Tuesday was described by many people as the thickest to blanket the city amid this year’s fire crisis.

It caused the cancellation of ferry and boat rides, while smoke permeating buildings forced evacuations citywide.

Locals described the situation as “apocalyptic” and “insane”.

Sydney Harbour Bridge obscured by grey smoke
Image captionThe Sydney Harbour Bridge is almost entirely obscured by the smoke
Bondi Beach obscured by a thick layer of smoke
Image captionThe smoke from inland fires has reached all the way to the coast and Bondi Beach
A woman wears a face mask and a summer dress in Sydney's city centre
Image captionMany people are wearing face masks in the streets

Online, Sydney residents reported breathing problems and said they were “choking” on the smoke.

The city has endured air quality surpassing “hazardous” levels for weeks, as about 100 blazes continue to rage throughout New South Wales (NSW).

The closest fires are about an hour’s drive away from Greater Sydney, which has a population of five million people.

Tuesday was “the worst smoke day yet”, according to locals on social media. In previous days, ash has fallen from the sky.

Black ash covers Sydney's Balmoral Beach
Image captionOn Friday, Sydney’s Balmoral Beach was covered in ash from a bushfire 100km away
Imogen Brennan shared videos online of an Australian beach covered in ash
Video captionImogen Brennan shared videos online of an Australian beach covered in ash

At its peak, air pollution in the city centre was 11 times worse than “hazardous” levels. It was even worse in suburbs and towns closer to the fires.

Health officials advised people to stay indoors and many people have taken to wearing face masks on the streets.

Hospital admissions have risen at least 25% in the past weeks due to an influx of people with respiratory and breathing problems, officials said.

People wear face masks while walking through Sydney
Image captionThe smoke got worse throughout the day as fires intensified
A man runs over a bridge during a smoky haze in Sydney on Tuesday
Image captionNot everyone has listened to warnings to avoid exercise outdoors
Sydney harbour ferries in the dock amid thick smoke
Image captionTrips on the city’s harbour ferries were suspended due to the poor visibility
Beachgoers on Bondi Beach amid a heavy smoke haze,
Image captionThe smoke lingered amid higher temperatures

Daycare centres and schools were also keeping children inside during lunch and recess.

Last week, authorities said the stretch of air pollution was “the longest and most widespread” for the state on record.

“[We have] recorded some of the highest air pollution ever seen,” the New South Wales government said.

Six people have died and more than 700 homes have been destroyed in bushfires that have ravaged Australia since September. More than two million hectares of land has been scorched in NSW alone, officials have said.

Public anger towards Australia’s conservative government – and its efforts to address climate change -has grown as drought, water and bushfire emergencies have persisted.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed media in Sydney on Tuesday but did not comment directly on the smoke’s impact.

Source: BBC

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