Smoke in Australia's capital is so bad that the agency responsible for emergency management has shut

The Australian federal government department responsible for managing emergencies shut its Canberra office due to poor air quality on Monday as the nation's capital choked on smoke from deadly bushfires.

On Monday, Canberra had a rating over 340 on the Air Quality Index -- higher than Beijing's 170. The rating comes as Australia is ravaged by some of the worst wildfires seen in decades, with the massive blazes destroying homes, devastating wildlife, turning skies blood red, and leaving a total of 24 people dead nationwide.
The Department of Home Affairs told staff to stay away from its Canberra headquarters, CNN affiliate SBS reported, while the Department of Health told staff not to work out of one of its locations. Childcare services in the city were also shut.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/06/australia/australia-fires-capital-intl-hnk/index.html
Visitors to Parliament House were forced to wear face masks after smoke from bushfires blankets Canberra in a haze on January 5.

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