Australian coroner slams response to deadly 2003 firestorm

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2006

SYDNEY (AFP) — An Australian coroner has found officials bungled the response to a deadly firestorm that hit Canberra in 2003, as firefighters continue to battle wildfires in the drought-parched country. Australian Capital Territory coroner Maria Doogan said residents were not properly warned about the fires, which killed four people and destroyed almost 500 homes in January 2003, even though they had known about the danger for days.

"Frankly, on the evidence before the inquiry, it is a miracle that no more than four people died," Doogan said in a damning 843-page report. Doogan said that top officials in the ACT cabinet had known about the risk the fires posed to the capital two days before the devastating firestorm hit on January 18, 2003 but played down the threat instead...