NT in the news: severe floods, heat, and health scares hit Australia’s north—diphtheria outbreak, floods, and storms. Territory home to Darwin and vast outback.
Heavy rains in Northern Territory and Queensland have caused severe flooding, resulting in two deaths of Chinese tourists and ongoing evacuations. Australian authorities have deployed Defence Force personnel to assist communities, with climate change contributing to increased intensity of such weather events.
The diphtheria outbreak in Australia has reached multiple states and territories, with the Northern Territory reporting hundreds of cases and at least one death. Health authorities warn vaccination rates are driving transmission, while Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected. Officials say cases are now decreasing after peaking earlier in 2026.