The nation's capital has been drenched in a thick smoke haze from bushfires burning around New South Wales.

But incredibly, the air quality yesterday in Canberra was the worst in the world...by far.

On New Year's Day, readings at one station in the Australian Capital Territory registered an air quality index reading of a whopping 4,650. For some perspective, when the AQI goes above 200, it's considered hazardous.

Credit: --JohnSmith__/Reddit

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The reading at Monash was well above other cities competing for the world's world air quality, with places like Delhi and Kolkata only in the 400s. Elsewhere in the ACT, Civic registered 3,436 and it was 3,508 at Florey

ACT acting chief health officer Dr Paul Dugdale said they registered readings that have never been seen in the capital.

"It is in the highest range that we go up to...and in fact it was out of range overnight on one of our smoke detectors," he said.

Credit: PA

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"It went off the scale on the small particles. It's certainly extremely smoky as anyone can see looking outside."



Off. The. Goddamn. Scale.

The Canberra Times reports that the previously highest recorded AQI in Canberra in the last seven years was 1,420 - so we really are in uncharted territory.



Pictures uploaded to social media show Parliament House and other iconic Canberra locations shrouded in an eerie smoke haze.

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Credit: PA

People have been posting about a complete lack of smoke masks as well in and around the ACT as many places have sold out. For those who are still trying, it's best to have a P2 mask, which filters out small PM2.5 particles.

The smoke was mainly coming from the bushfires on the New South Wales south coast, which was so big that it crossed the Tasman Sea and started affecting people in New Zealand.

The ACT Government issued a warning for people to stay indoors and not exercise outdoors.

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"We also strongly advise people who are sensitive to smoke, especially those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, to take extra care during these conditions," the warning said.

The smoke affecting New Zealand. Credit: Bureau Of Meteorology

"This includes remaining indoors where possible, with windows and doors closed, and not using evaporative air conditioners which draw air into the house from outside. Anyone with a heart or lung condition should take their medication as prescribed by their doctor. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan.

"Anyone with concerns about their health should seek medical advice from their doctor. And anyone experiencing wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty breathing should seek urgent medical attention and in the event of a medical emergency call triple-zero."

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