A severe weather event has wreaked havoc across southern Australia, leaving one woman dead and over 120,000 people without power. High winds and heavy rain battered Victoria and Tasmania, causing widespread damage and prompting ongoing weather warnings.
The tragic incident occurred at the Victoria-New South Wales border, where a 63-year-old woman lost her life after a tree fell on her cabin at a holiday park, emergency services confirmed on Monday, (02 September). The storm’s fury left 180,000 people without power at its peak, though this number was reduced to 121,000 by Monday (02 September) morning (local time).
Victoria and Tasmania both reported significant damage, with winds reaching nearly 150 km/h (93 mph). The Victoria state government urged residents to avoid coastal areas due to dangerous waves, unstable cliffs, and flooding in low-lying regions.
Tasmania faced similar challenges, with thousands still without power as of Sunday. Mick Lowe, Executive Director of Tasmania’s State Emergency Services, described the storm as having caused “extensive destruction” during a news conference on Monday.
These severe storms followed several days of unusually warm winter temperatures in New South Wales, with Sydney seeing highs nearing 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Extreme weather events, though not uncommon in Australia, continue to challenge the resilience of affected communities.
References
