Smoke from the Black Summer bushfires killed nearly 450 people and affected 80 per cent of the population, health experts have told a royal commission hearing.
The commission, which is looking into Australia’s preparedness for and responses to natural disasters, is hearing from health experts about the short and long-term impacts of bushfires.
This story will be regularly updated throughout Tuesday.
Tuesday’s key moments:
- Bushfire smoke responsible for estimated 445 deaths during Black Summer
- ‘Bushfire brain’ can make simple decisions and recovery impossible
- Calls for more funding to better equip towns to protect themselves
- Insurance figures reveal $2.2 billion in fire claims
Majority of Australians affected by bushfire smoke
The commission heard modelling done by health researchers found 80 per cent of Australians were affected by bushfire smoke at some point over the 2019/2020 season.
Associate Professor Fay Johnston, from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, said her team estimated around 445 people died as a result of the smoke, over 3,000 people were admitted to hospital for re