 Thousands call for help The State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 3000 calls for help, with more than 500 volunteers involved. "There has been a lot of damage through trees hitting homes and cars, the wind lifting whole roofs off houses," said SES spokesman Allan Briggs. The powerful winds cut power to more than 300,000 homes and businesses in Victoria at the height of the storm. Thousands still remain without power. "It is more single premises that have wires ripped out than larger transformers affecting a lot of people," Powercor spokesman Damien Batey said.
TOP PICTURE BY JOHN NARAYAN***
RED DUST BY GRAEME WITTE***
PORSCHE UNDER TREE BY PETER STIPSIANOS***
All pictures and more found and www.news.com.au
Not over yet
The weather bureau predicted the low pressure system that brought yesterday's high winds to ease today.
Winds are expected to reach 80km/h today in the west, south and east Gippsland areas of Victoria.
But in Tasmania, hurricane force winds are still affecting the state with 169km/h winds the highest detected at Matt Suyker Island in the state's south.
More than 14,000 Tasmanians were still without power this morning as emergency crews cleaned up after hurricane force winds topping more than 170km/h yesterday battered Hobart and surrounding areas.Labels: weather |
