SYDNEY — Three American crew members died Thursday when a C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia, officials said. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the crash deaths in the state’s Snowy Monaro region as Australia attempts to deal with an unprecedented fire season that has left a large swath of destruction. Coulson grounded other firefighting aircraft as a precaution pending investigation, reducing planes available to firefighters in New South Wales and neighboring Victoria state. ADVERTISEMENTAlso Thursday, Canberra Airport closed temporarily because of nearby wildfires, and residents south of the city were told to seek shelter. A second fire near the airport that started on Thursday morning is at a “watch and act” level — the middle of the three tiers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 23, 2020 08:03 UTC