How Did a Severe Storm Cause Critical Injuries and Flooding in Australia?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One man critically injured due to a tree falling on his truck.
- Severe flooding has affected around 200 properties.
- Power outages impact over 35,000 homes and businesses.
- Residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel.
- Emergency services are actively responding to the crisis.
Sydney, July 2 (NationPress) A man has been admitted to the hospital with critical injuries as devastating rain and winds have caused extensive flooding across Australia's east coast.
A powerful storm system swept across the coast on Tuesday, prompting widespread emergency alerts in New South Wales (NSW), and intensified overnight, resulting in downed trees and damaged buildings.
According to NSW Police, a 55-year-old man is in a critical condition after a tree fell, crushing the driver's cabin of his semi-trailer truck in Moss Vale, located 105 km southwest of Sydney, around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Authorities arrived at the scene and successfully extracted the unconscious driver from the wreckage. He received immediate medical attention for serious head and torso injuries before being rushed to the hospital.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) reported that approximately 200 properties in the South Coast region, 180 km south of Sydney, experienced flooding overnight, with some areas receiving over 200 millimeters of rain within a 24-hour span.
As of 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, more than 35,000 homes and businesses across NSW were experiencing power outages.
Sydney Airport has indicated that flight cancellations and delays are likely to persist throughout Wednesday, while strong winds have also led to cancellations at Brisbane Airport in Queensland.
Residents in Sydney and the nearby cities of Newcastle to the north and Wollongong to the south have been advised to refrain from non-essential travel, as public transportation services face significant disruptions.
Debbie Platz, Deputy Commissioner of the NSW SES, shared on Nine Network that many residents have heeded warnings and prepared their homes, reducing potential damage.
She noted that the southern part of the storm affecting Wollongong and nearby areas is now a primary concern for authorities, according to Xinhua news agency.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, indicating that the low-pressure system is expected to move eastward back out to sea later on Wednesday.