Serious floods hit as wildfires rage on

Serious flooding across Australia halted mining operations and forced officials to declare a number of disaster areas as deadly wildfires raged on in the south yesterday.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto said its iron ore operations in Western Australia had been significantly disrupted by torrential rains and floods as a tropical low hit the region.

"Many roads are impassable and all employees have been advised to exercise extreme caution," Rio said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, announcing the suspension of several projects.