WILDFIRES possibly sparked by fallen power lines roared across a swath of western Australia yesterday, razing almost 40 homes and sending hundreds of people fleeing for their lives, officials and witnesses said. At least three people were injured.

Wildfires roared across parts of western Australia today, razing almost 40 homes and sending hundreds of people fleeing for their lives, officials and witnesses said. At least three people were injured.

A massive cyclone with wind gusts up to 162 mph battered Australia’s sparsely populated northwest coast today after flattening island communities in its path over the past week.