Open thread - Monday

(photo from AP)

We're back in Australia and it's not good news. After devastating floods and the destruction brought by cyclone Yasi to the state of Queensland, the state of Victoria experienced flash floods over the weekend (not for the first time in recent weeks) and now bush fires are raging near Perth, Western Australia.

Bushfires that destroyed at least 59 Perth homes and forced hundreds of people to flee for their lives continued to burn out of control last night.

Fire authorities said a huge blaze at Roleystone, on Perth's southeastern fringe, would burn for days, while other fires threatened more suburbs and police warned that anyone trying to break through cordons to reach their homes would be arrested.

No deaths had been reported last night, but more than a dozen people had been treated in hospital for smoke inhalation, and a firefighter was in a stable condition after a vehicle accident.

Let's all send good vibes to Australia and the good people there. They need a break...