Two killed by falling in storms ravaging east coast
Severe storms have turned deadly with two people killed in wild weather. A woman died on the Gold Coast and a man was killed in Victoria’s east when they were struck by trees felled by destructive wind. Severe storms caused flash flooding, tore off rooves and turned backyards white with hail. Some regions are on flood alert and more fierce storms are possible as the festive season is marred by tragedy.
Transcript
00:00 A ferocious storm hit the Gold Coast just after 9 o'clock.
00:09 The sheer force of the wind, tearing huge trees from the ground and splintering others
00:14 like matchsticks.
00:18 From a balcony in surfer's paradise, it looked like a cyclone.
00:22 For those sheltering in tents, it was a terrifying experience.
00:29 Broken trees leaving a mangled mess.
00:33 A 59-year-old woman was killed on the Gold Coast when a tree hit the car she was in.
00:38 Absolutely tragic set of circumstances.
00:41 The storm we saw last night was unprecedented.
00:44 250,000 lightning strikes lit up the night sky.
00:48 Almost 900 power lines were severed, cutting electricity to more than 120,000 properties
00:54 across the region.
00:55 I've never before seen concrete power poles taken down by a storm.
01:00 Boxing Day revealed the extent of the damage.
01:02 Houses smashed to pieces, roads blocked.
01:06 We were just devastated.
01:07 Like this morning when we got up, we could see all the damage.
01:11 This crane buckled under the force of the wind.
01:14 Theme parks were closed for repairs.
01:16 Gold Coast residents are calling this the worst storm in decades.
01:19 So powerful it's ripped the roof clean off this family's home.
01:23 There's plasterboard everywhere and wait till you see where it ended up.
01:26 It's been sent cartwheeling and on top of their neighbour's roof across the road.
01:30 Jeff and Helen Nielsen felt their house shudder as the roof landed, blocking their windows
01:35 but not causing too much damage.
01:37 It's collected the ground there and then it's obviously softened its landings.
01:41 I just take life as it comes.
01:43 The wind speed is up to category 2 cyclone, so it's pretty serious.
01:49 Wild storms also battered Charleville, 800km west of the Gold Coast.
01:54 The Weather Bureau says there could be more to come.
01:57 There's still potentially going to be some quite strong, severe thunderstorm activity
02:02 around South East Queensland over the next day or so.
02:05 In Victoria, a man died after being hit by a tree in the states east on Boxing Day morning
02:10 as severe storms swept through.
02:12 Heavy falls triggered flash flooding in parts of South Gippsland with streets and businesses
02:17 inundated.
02:18 Emergency services responded to more than 300 calls for help, the rain creating delays
02:24 for the Boxing Day test as clouds closed in over the MCG.
02:28 Violent storms also hit parts of New South Wales with heavy rains swamping the south
02:33 coast.
02:36 Campers at a Kiama holiday park had a dramatic end to their Christmas.
02:40 This father carried his children to safety as the water rose around their caravan.
02:44 "Got the kids in the car and got them safe, tried to grab a few things, electronics and
02:50 all the important stuff."
02:52 "I was just scared, really scared."
02:54 Across the country, many are hoping for a gentler start to the new year.
02:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]