Vic: Winds wreak havoc across Victoria=3

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2008
Vic: Winds wreak havoc across Victoria=3

EDS: Updates number of people without power



By 2pm (AEDT), more than 17,000 Powercor customers had lost supply, while more than
9,000 CitiPower customers were also hit, Mr Batey said.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior forecaster Terry Ryan told AAP gusts of up to 100km/h
had been recorded around Melbourne and wider parts of the state, as a result of a low
weather system.

"These winds have lasted quite a long time. Often, they only last for a few hours but
they've grown worse as the day has gone on," Mr Ryan said.

"It's a bit unusual. Often these winds are more of a spring time event."

Mr Ryan said wind gusts across western parts of the state were expected to drop to
60km/h this afternoon, while a weak storm front would bring scattered showers to parts
of the state by this evening.

Meantime, the State Emergency Service (SES) said it had attended 822 jobs across the
state, including 600 in metropolitan Melbourne.

Adele Buhagiar, of the Country Fire Authority (CFA), said a number of powerlines had
been brought down across the Dandenongs, in areas including Boronia, Olinda and Emerald.

Powerlines were also down around Geelong and Warrnambool, while the CFA had also been
called to grassfires around the Dandenongs, she added.

Rural Ambulance Victoria spokesman Andre Coia said gale force winds could cause treacherous
conditions on regional and rural roads, strewing debris in the path of vehicles.

Mr Coia said drivers should expect to encounter obstacles on the road, slippery conditions
and decreased visibility.

A dust storm creating low visibility may also have played a part in a three car pile-up
along the Western Highway this morning.

The accident happened near Buangor, in the state's west, with ten people taken to hospital
suffering a range of injuries, including a 25-year-old woman with neck and back injuries.

The high winds had also forced the closure of the Melbourne International Flower Show,
which opened today.

AAP sjm/ce/it/de

KEYWORD: WIND VIC 3 MELB (REOPENS)

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