Victoria Weather: Thousands Without Power and One Fatality Reported
Wild winds have severely impacted Victoria, leaving thousands without power and reporting one fatality. The storm uprooted trees, downed power lines, and left several towns in darkness. The State Emergency Service (SES) and energy companies work tirelessly to restore power across affected regions. Traffic disruptions, school closures, and coastal hazard warnings have also been issued.
Destructive winds have had a significant impact on Victoria, causing widespread chaos and leaving approximately 100,000 homes without electricity. The powerful storm uprooted trees, downed power lines, and left several towns in darkness. In a tragic incident, a tree fell on a cabin in Moama, a town on the Victoria-New South Wales border, resulting in the death of a woman inside. Authorities are working to confirm her identity, and a coroner’s report is in preparation.
At the peak of the storm, around 170,000 homes were left without power. By the afternoon, energy providers had restored electricity to some areas, but approximately 115,000 homes remained in the dark. Crews from the State Emergency Service (SES) and energy companies are working tirelessly to restore power across the affected regions.
The SES has been overwhelmed with nearly 3,800 calls for assistance between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon, with about 2,600 related to building damage. Areas like Frankston, Morwell, Warragul, Emerald, and Moe have been hit hardest, with fallen trees and infrastructure damage causing significant disruptions. Premier Jacinta Allan praised the relentless efforts of emergency services and volunteers who are working around the clock to clear debris and restore normalcy.
In towns such as Warragul, Drouin, and Longwarry, residents have been without power since the storm hit, forcing local businesses to close and disrupting daily life. Moe Traders Association President Sue Broadbent described how the fierce winds tore the roof off a house in Newborough and brought down a large tree in the centre of Moe.
The storm has also caused significant traffic disruptions and school closures. Over 60 traffic lights across the state are out of service due to power outages, creating hazards for motorists. Public transport has been disrupted, with buses replacing trains between Bairnsdale and Southern Cross stations due to debris on the tracks.
Several schools have transitioned to remote learning because of the severe weather, with institutions like St Helena Secondary College in Eltham, Yarra Ranges Special Development School, and Leopold Kindergarten near Geelong closing their doors and opting for online classes. A coastal hazard warning has been issued, cautioning about damaging surf and unusually high tides, which could lead to flooding of bike paths near Port Phillip Bay and Western Port at high tide.
This devastating weather event has left Victoria reeling, with recovery efforts expected to continue as the state works to rebuild and restore essential services.
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