Weekly wrap-up: Landslides kill dozens in Philippines amid tropical storms; Extreme heat bakes Sydney
Tropical Storm Kai-tak, known in the Philippines as Urduja, led to deadly mudslides and flooding in the Philippines this week.
The storm killed at least 50 people in the central Philippines, according to the Associated Press.
The victims died in floods and landslides, and the majority of the deaths occurred in the province of Biliran.
Five people died on the island of Samar, where Guiuan was inundated with more than 1,067 mm (42 inches) of rain since the middle of last week. In 24 hours alone, 780 mm (nearly 31 inches) of rain fell.
In this photo provided Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, residents wait on the damaged Catmon Bridge after Urduja (Kai-tak) hit the island province of Biliran, central Philippines on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (Robinson Ninal Jr./ Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP)
Amid Kai-tak and another brewing tropical system, a ferry carrying 251 people capsized off the northeast coast of the Philippines on Thursday.
At least four people were killed. The passenger vessel was reportedly lashed by large waves and strong winds when it began to sink in the waters of the Polillo Strait.
Rain and large waves hampered the search and rescue efforts.
Tropical Storm Tembin formed on the heels of Kai-tak and has led to additional deadly mudslides.
Floodwaters washed away homes and made some roads impassable. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
Extreme heat baked Sydney and Melbourne this week, leading to at least one heat-related death.
A man died while golfing in Sydney as temperatures soared past 100 F (38 C). Typical mid-December highs average near 24 C (75 F).
This round of heat came after southeastern Australia endured another hot spell last week.
The Thomas Fire near Santa Barbara continues to rage and is on track to become California's biggest wildfire on record.
As of Thursday evening, Dec. 21, the Thomas Fire has charred 272,600 acres, just short of the 273,246 acres burned during the Cedar Fire in October 2003.
In this Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, flames from a back firing operation underway rise behind a home off Ladera Lane near Bella Vista Drive in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Thomas Fire has caused two fatalities. Over 6,800 personnel are working around the clock to increase the fire's containment level.
More than 5,000 people gathered around Stonehenge on Friday morning to watch the rising sun in celebration of the winter solstice.
The solstice marks the official beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and occurs when the Earth’s axis is titled farthest from the sun, causing the day with the shortest amount of sunlight.
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