Australia authorities lose contact with air tanker fighting fires

A plane releases fire retardant over forest during bushfires in South Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia November 12, 2019 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Video taken November 12,2019. IAIN BREW via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities have lost contact with a large air tanker fighting bush fires in alpine areas of the southeastern state of New South Wales, they said on Thursday.

"The New South Wales rural fire service is investigating reports of a serious incident involving an aircraft in southern New South Wales this afternoon," it said on Twitter.