Inside ‘world’s most toxic town’ dubbed ‘Aussie Chernobyl’ where 2,000 people died and breathing the AIR could kill you | The Sun
THE "world's most toxic town" dubbed "Australia's Chernobyl" is finally being wiped off the map – as just breathing the air could kill you.
The once bustling mining town of Wittenoom in the Pilbara region is now only haunted by the ghosts of residents who died there.
Its lethal legacy left officials with no choice but to force survivors to leave by August 31 or face forced eviction by police.
Wittenoom was previously prime real estate, as it roared to life in 1943 when mining for blue asbestos first began.
The boom in the industry created an inevitable buzz, seeing thousands of families flock to the area for work.
But what they didn't realise is that the substance that provided the town's sustenance was slowly killing them.
Over 2,000 workers and residents died as a result of breathing in the deadly fibres before the mines were closed in 1996.
And the air remains toxic with asbestos today – so much so, it was taken off maps and road signs in a bid to discourage people from visiting.
The government started demolishing buildings and sealing off the waste dumps from the mines, and it was disconnected from the national grid.
But despite the efforts of authorities, there were still three million tonnes of asbestos tailings left behind in the gorge and surrounding area.
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Cleaning up the site completely would have cost around £20million in the 1980s – but would cost even more today.
Officials warned exposure to just a single fibre "could prove fatal" – meaning it will never be safe for human habitation ever again.
Despite urging remaining residents to leave for numerous years, the departure is still proving a hard pill to swallow for one local.
Lorraine Thomas is the last woman standing in Wittenoom – and just wants a few more weeks to pack up her life.
Her daughter Aileen told the Daily Mail: "It's been her home. It's where her husband is buried in the cemetery."
Numerous loved ones laid to rest in the local graveyard were victims of Wittenoom's deadly heritage.
In its heyday, the mine boasted a workforce of around 7,000 while the town was home to around 13,000 residents.
Its demise came in December 1966 when the mine was closed due to a lack of profitability and falling asbestos prices – and the following year, mining the substance was banned.
FATAL ATTRACTION
But the town, located on the edge of Karijini National Park, has continued to remain prominent as its list of victims continues to rise.
Studies suggest at least a quarter of the people who worked in the mine will eventually die of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Despite the deadly health warnings, Wittenhoom has become a surprise hit with tourists who manage to find it.
There are hundreds of photos of people posing at the site, with some even photographing themselves near the warning signs.
Some have even dubbed it a "bucket-list" location, brushing off its other terrifying nickname – "Australia's Chernobyl".
But they have been urged to heed the cautions and reminded that cool pictures are not worth "the threat of a fatal consequences."
The Western Australian Government announced Wittenoom's official status as a town would be removed in December 2006.
The complete closure has been dragged out over the years amid protests from some remaining residents.
Just six people were still in the town by 2015, dropping to four the following year and just two by 2020.
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In December 2006, the Western Australian Government announced the town's official status would be removed, and it was de-gazetted the following year.
Now only Lorraine Thomas is left to leave.
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