Intense thunderstorms brought relief to parts of Australia scorched by months of catastrophic bushfires.
More than a month’s rain fell in 24 hours in some of the worst-affected states, helping to contain fires that have killed 29 people and more than a billion animals, and left 10 million hectares of scorched earth.
In New South Wales, fire officers said that despite the storms there were still 82 fires burning across the state, with more than 30 yet to be contained.
A further two to four inches of rain could fall over the next few days, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said.
However, average rainfall is not expected to return until at least March.
The rain has brought flash flooding across the country. At the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, staff rescued koalas and beat crocodiles back with brooms because of rising waters.
The downpours have also cleared smoke in Melbourne which has affected the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Matilda Moule, three, and her jack russell Polly were found safe a day after going missing from her family’s remote farm in Pilbara, Western Australia, when creeks around her home flooded, police said.
