Sydney blanketed in choking fire haze

SYDNEY, Australia -- Smoke from more than 100 bushfires has blanketed Australia's largest city, obscuring the tallest skyscrapers, the famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge with visibility cut to just a few hundred meters.

The bushfires surrounding Sydney were being kept under some control on Sunday by firefighters and residents who have battled the flames since Christmas Day and lived in fear of arsonists starting new blazes.

Weather conditions remained relatively benign after forecasts of soaring temperatures and strong winds failed to materialize.

"The forecast weather has not eventuated in many parts of the state (New South Wales), the humidity is higher than anticipated, the northwesterly winds did not emerge at all," a relieved Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg told a news conference.

But he warned the situation was still grave.

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"All this has done has been to delay operations to any significant extent by perhaps 24 hours. The (weather) bureau is talking about a westerly airstream emerging tomorrow which will dry the atmosphere considerably," Koperberg said.

Visibility low

The smoke caused disruption at Sydney airport.

While takeoffs were unaffected, poor visibility forced the diversion of two domestic and three international flights to Brisbane and the capital Canberra.

HHarborferries packed with summer holiday makers used their foghorns to avoid collisions with small weekend pleasure craft. Asthma sufferers had to take refuge in air conditioned buildings.

"I can't see the Opera House," said one Taiwanese visitor as she looked across from the hharbor'snorthern foreshore several hundred mmetersaway.

The Blue Mountain national park district west of Sydney, the scene of some of the biggest fires, is blanketed with a dense grey suffocating smog.

Air quality 'grim'

The fires flared on Christmas Day as high winds fanned flames. More than 10,000 firefighters and support staff are battling with blazes to the north, west and south of the city.

Air quality has plunged. Health warnings from medical authorities advising people with respiratory problems to stay indoors have dashed usual year-end plans to relax at the beach in the sizzling summer heat.

"The advice we are giving people today is to stay indoors particularly if you do suffer from asthma or any other respiratory disease," said Catherine Havenaar of the New South Wales Ambulance Service.

"Pollution levels are very grim with smoke and dust and those working in the fire areas will find it particularly difficult today," she told Sky television.

Since Christmas Day the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority's regional pollution index (RPI) rocketed to around 200. The RPI was below 20 at this time last year.

More than 150 homes and properties, mostly south and west of the city, have been destroyed by the bushfires but there have been no reports of death or serious injury.

Reuters contributed to this report.