WA’s Pilbara hits 45C as large swathes of Australia swelter in heatwave

The Pilbara region of Western Australia, where temperatures hit 45C amid a nationwide heatwave. Photograph: John White Photos/Getty Images

Large swathes of Australia sweltered amid a heatwave on Friday, including in the Pilbara, where temperatures reached 45C.

Sumaoa Bayliss, the manager at the Red Sands Tavern in the northern Western Australian town of Newman – where it reached 44C – said life goes on in the dangerous conditions, albeit under air conditioning.