Death toll from Australia's 'thunderstorm asthma' rises to 8

More than a week after a rare condition known as thunderstorm asthma struck Australia's second-largest city, the death toll has risen to eight, with one other person on life support, officials have said.

The latest two victims died in hospital intensive care units on Monday night and Tuesday morning from medical complications stemming from a wild thunderstorm which struck Melbourne on November 21, a Health Department statement said.