A Town in Western Australia So Dangerous That Authorities Removed It from the Map
On July 11, Daily Mail reported that Australian officials are warning tourists to steer clear of the ghost town of Wittenoom in Western Australia because even breathing here could be fatal.
Wittenoom, famously dubbed the “ghost town,” is so dangerous that local authorities have removed it from the region’s map.
The situation is so severe that the “ghost town” has been erased from regional maps and disconnected from the local power grid. According to Daily Mail, thousands have died here, most of whom were miners.
After an investigation, local authorities finally discovered the cause of the mysterious deaths that turned Wittenoom into a ghost town: an extremely high level of asbestos, a harmful substance. Inhaling asbestos dust can lead to serious diseases that may result in death, including lung cancer and asbestosis.
Ben Wyatt, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Land in Australia, stated that a large amount of asbestos still lingers in the air at Wittenoom and that this ghost town is not safe for visitors.
Wittenoom was once a dream for real estate developers in 1943. At the time of the industry boom, thousands of families flocked to the area to work and mine for asbestos, making the town a home for tens of thousands.
Each mine employed a substantial workforce, with a population ranging from 7,000 to 13,000 residents. After a few decades, due to declining profits and falling asbestos prices worldwide, the mines and asbestos companies gradually closed.
The town erased from the map by the Australian government due to health hazards.
Subsequently, the negative impact of asbestos on human health gradually claimed the lives of residents, leading to more than 2,000 workers and locals dying. This forced the asbestos mines to close in 1996.
Wyatt mentioned that local authorities lack the funding and time to clean up the ghost town and make it a safe place for habitation.
“I have one word for anyone wanting to visit Wittenoom. That is: ‘Don’t,'” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Land emphasized.
To isolate Wittenoom, the town has been completely removed from all national maps, all signage has been taken down, and the roads leading to the town have been blocked off, officially turning the former industrial town into a non-existent area as of December 2006.
Tourists flock to Wittenoom despite life-threatening dangers.
Despite warnings from local authorities, tourists continue to flock to the “ghost town” in increasing numbers. They come to take photos with abandoned structures like cafes, jewel shops, and cars.
Other images show families visiting for vacations, camping, and swimming in the nearby lakes.
