Severe Storm Strikes Australia's East Coast, Leaving Thousands Without Power
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Synopsis
A severe storm hit Australia's east coast early Thursday, resulting in widespread power outages and road blockages. The storm, which began in Grafton, New South Wales, brought heavy rainfall and high winds, affecting over 25,000 homes. In a separate incident, a man died in a house fire in Melbourne, marking a tragic week for the region.
Key Takeaways
- A severe storm impacted the east coast of Australia.
- Over 25,000 people lost power due to the storm.
- The storm brought winds exceeding 100 km/h.
- A separate house fire in Melbourne resulted in one fatality.
- This marks the second deadly fire incident in a week.
Sydney, Jan 23 (NationPress) A destructive storm that struck the east coast of Australia in the early hours of Thursday has resulted in thousands being left without electricity and major roads obstructed by downed trees.
The electrical storm impacted the coastal town of Grafton, nearly 500 km north of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales (NSW), before dawn on Thursday and progressed northward into Queensland, bringing heavy rainfall and wind speeds surpassing 100 km per hour, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The storm inflicted extensive damage, toppling trees and power lines.
As of 9:30 am local time, more than 25,000 homes and businesses were experiencing power outages.
The State Emergency Service (SES), which stated it was unprepared for the storm, received over 100 assistance requests.
Efforts to restore power to the affected properties have commenced, according to reports from Xinhua.
In a separate incident, a man lost his life while another was injured in a house fire in the western suburbs of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria.
Emergency responders were alerted to the fire in Deer Park, approximately 16 km west of central Melbourne, around noon local time on Thursday after the blaze ignited in a bedroom, the ABC reported.
Authorities indicated that two individuals were present in the house during the incident. One man perished at the scene, while another man in his 30s was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Fire and rescue services reported that the fire was confined to a single bedroom and brought under control in under 15 minutes.
The origin of the fire is still under investigation.
This incident marks the second fatal house fire in the vicinity within a week. A 27-year-old woman tragically lost her life on January 16 during an arson attack in the neighboring suburb of Truganina, which police have described as a case of mistaken identity.
