Sydney goes ahead with New Year's Eve fireworks show as the country is ravaged by bushfires that have killed 12 people

Sydney went ahead with its New Year firework display despite calls for it to be cancelled amid wildfires raging across the country, with furious Australians describing it as 'slap in the face'

Sydney went ahead with its multi-million dollar New Year firework display at midnight on Tuesday, despite calls for it to be cancelled as much of Australia is devastated by wildfires. Some furious observers branded the celebration a 'slap in the face' amid devastation that has seen at least 12 killed, dozens of homes destroyed, and left thousands of people stranded. As the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge were illuminated with fireworks, others spent New Year's Eve sheltering from blazes amid apocalyptic scenes with fire smoke shrouding the sun and turning the sky blood-red.