Rare smog puts Sydney on par with New Delhi as bushfires rage

A view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge shrouded in smog from nearby bushfires in Sydney, Australia, December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Air quality in Sydney plummeted on Tuesday to levels among the world's worst as smoke from bushfires in the north blanketed the harbour city, taking large swathes into index ranges on par with New Delhi, one of the world's most crowded capitals.

Although smog is rare in Sydney, better known for its beaches and blue skies, grey clouds hovered over the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, with smoke visible in the air.