Monday update

21 Oct 2013

A state of emergency has been declared in NSW as 56 fires burn throughout the state. In international news, six more bodies have been found after the deadly Lao Airlines crash, taking the total to 38.

State of emergency in NSW

A state of emergency has been declared across New South Wales as temperatures sore over the coming days. Authorities are warning of a potential mega-fire with a front across hundreds of kilometres. Strong winds are expected over the next few days which may connect three major fires in the Blue Mountains. Residents in some areas have been advised to evacuate. A total of 56 fires are burning across NSW; 12 are out of control. The largest is the State Mine fire near Lithgow. People in the area are being urged to listen to authorities and evacuate when the call is made. Read more.

Are you in the affected areas? Stay safe and listen to emergency warnings. Share your stories on our Facebook page.

Chopper confesses to murder

Mark ‘Chopper’ Read confessed to murdering four people in his final interview. The infamous criminal, who has never been convicted of murder, told 60 Minutes just days before he died, that he killed four people including convicted paedophile Regional Isaacs. Seven News has more.

Six more bodies recovered in Laos

Six more bodies have been pulled from the Mekong River in Laos, following a Lao Airlines plane crash last Wednesday. More than half of the passengers and crew were foreigners, including six Australians. Search efforts have largely been hampered by strong currents. The total number of bodies found is now at 38. Read more.

Missing boy found at bottom of well

A missing Lithuanian boy has been found at the bottom of an unused well after he fell into the uncovered hole. The ten-year-old was reported missing on Saturday evening after failing to return from playing with his friends. A number of police dogs were involved in the large-scale search. The boy was located on Sunday afternoon. Watch the dramatic rescue on Nine News.