Tuesday's news

29 Jan 2013

East coast floods, arrests over Brazil's fire, teen survives Sydney bush, cricket turns ugly and a silly threats stops Melbourne's trains.

Four dead in floods

The weekend’s wild weather has moved south to NSW, leaving behind record flooding and four deaths in Qld, as well as almost 160,000 without power in the state’s south-east.

The most recent death was that of a three-year-old boy who died from his injuries after being hit by a falling tree in Gordon Park, north of Brisbane. 

While Bundaburg and Grafton are facing flood peaks at record highs, Brisbane and Ipswich peaked lower than anticipated.

Find out more about flooding on the east coast of Qld and NSW, as well as current warnings by region, on the ABC News live blog.

In an emergency call 000, and for assistance during a storm or a flood, contact the State Emergency Service: 132 500.

‘Silly threat’ stops Melbourne trains

Southern Cross station was evacuated and Melbourne trains were stopped when a man on a city-bound XPT from Albury threatened staff and claimed to have a gun last night.

No gun was found and Senior Sergeant Pat Allen labelled the incident a “silly threat”. 

Find out more at News.com.au

Teen found after two months in bushland

An 18-year-old who went missing from Westleigh, in Sydney’s north-west, in November last year has been found alive in bushland close to his home. 

Matthew Allen was found by bushwalkers. The teen reportedly had gangrene in his lower limbs, was covered in leeches and insect bites, and was half his previous bodyweight after living on water from a creek bed.  

Police believe he may have deliberately avoided being found earlier.

Read the full story on the Sydney Morning Herald website.

Three arrested after Brazil nightclub fire

Following a nightclub fire in the southern Brazil city of Santa Maria that killed 231 people and left 100 hospitalised, one owner of the nightclub and two members of the band have been detained. A warrant has been issued for another owner of the club.

Some survivors report the band’s lead singer lighting a firework that may have caused the fire, while firefighters report that the club’s safety license expired mid-last year.

Find out more at ABC News.

Sri Lanka’s Australian tour takes ‘ugly’ turn

The end of last night’s Twenty20 match between Australia and Sri Lanka has been labelled ‘ugly’. With Australia’s Glenn Maxwell batting for the game on the last ball, Sri Lankan bowler Perera received lengthy advice from his teammates, drawing criticism for delaying play.

Pressures mounted on both sides and, following Sri Lanka’s victory, traditional post-game handshakes deteriorated into shouting and scuffles in front of the crowd of almost 40,000.

Read more at Ten Sport.