‘Home and Away’ recap: Summer Bay marked 2016 with a fatal explosion, breakups, goodbyes, new characters and major cliffhangers

It’s only a few days before the long-running Australian soap “Home and Away” comes back to the small screens on Jan. 9. While fans are eager to see the return of their favourite Summer Bay residents, it’s noteworthy to look back at some of the memorable incidents that occurred in 2016.

The explosion in the Caravan park, which happened back in May, could be considered the most tragic event that happened in Summer Bay. What started as Roo Stewart’s (Georgie Parker) fundraiser for the hospital turned into a nightmare, when a scuffle between Andy Barrett (Tai Hara) and Tank Snelgrove ( Reece Milne) sparked a huge explosion. The disaster led to the dramatic deaths of Oscar MacGuire (Jake Speer) and Hannah Wilson (Cassie Howarth), which caused terrible grief among their loved ones.

Because of the explosion, Maddy Osborne (Kassandra Clementi) also had her arm amputated, and she soon decided to leave town. Speaking of emotional exits, fans also saw Ricky Sharpe’s (Bonnie Sveen) departure. While she and Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor) made viewers swoon with their love story and dreamy wedding, their relationship had turned sour and ended in a dramatic separation. Other characters who waved goodbye to Summer Bay include Kyle Braxton (Nic Westaway) , Skye Peters (Marlo Kelly) and Chris Harrington (Johnny Ruffo).

Speaking of goodbyes, fans were saddened when the Barrett brothers Andy (Tai Hara) and Josh (Jackson Gallagher) also left Summer Bay. However, to make up for their absence, the soap introduced new characters, including the mysterious Morgan brothers and their sister Tori (Penny McNamee). The siblings were featured in an action-packed storyline: it turned out they were under the witness protection program after their parents were killed by a drug syndicate.

Before “Home and Away” went into its year-end break, the Morgans thought they were finally free, and their true identities were revealed. However, Tori, Brody Morgan (Jackson Heywood) and Mason Morgan (Orpheus Pledger) discovered that their nightmares were far from over – their brother Justin Morgan (James Stewart) even ended up fighting for his life.

It’s highly probable that Justin would survive and come out alive and go back in the arms of Phoebe Nicholson (Isabella Giovinazzo). Other romantic couples who emerged in 2016 and are worth watching out for this year include Tori and Nate, Evelyn “Evie” MacGuire (Philippa Northeast) and Matt Page (Alec Snow), as well as Mason and Olivia Richards (Raechelle Banno), who broke things off with Hunter King (Scott Lee).

[READ: “‘Home and Away’ latest news: Scott Lee is set to exit Aussie soap next year”]

Fans also wonder what 2017 has in store for on-again, off-again couple Katarina Chapman (Pia Miller) and Martin “Ash” Ashford (George Mason), as well as Billie Ashford (Tessa De Josselin) and VJ Patterson (Matthew Little). Before 2016 ended, Billie was shocked to find out that her rapist escaped from prison, which means her life may be in grave danger. It would also be interesting to see how Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger), the rapist’s mother, would be involved in this storyline.

The year 2016 also saw the rocky relationships of Bianca Scott (Lisa Gromley) and Heath Braxton (Dan Ewing), Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) and Zac Macguire (Charlie Clausen), as well as Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons) and John Palmer (Shane Withington). “Home and Away” beloved character Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), on the other hand, dealt with a scary health crisis and the return of his son Duncan Stewart (Benedict Wall).

Find out what happens next on “Home and Away,” which returns on Jan. 30, 2017. It airs Monday to Thursday at 7pm on Seven Network in Australia. In the UK, “Home and Away” airs during weekdays at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5.