A thunderstorm and strong winds left 110,000 households without power in eastern Australia, where a falling tree killed a woman, authorities reported this Tuesday (26, Thursday night 25, in Brazil).
“The storm caused catastrophic damage and knocked out the power grid in Brisbane, the Queensland state capital, and the Gold Coast region,” energy company Energex reported.
“It's not easy to say, but some customers will be without power for days. We are experiencing catastrophic and extensive damage on a cyclonic scale,” the company said on social media.
The Queensland Ambulance Service said a 59yearold woman died when a tree fell on the Gold Coast. “Unfortunately she suffered a serious head injury and passed away. We couldn't revive her,” said paramedic Jaye Newton, who was at the scene.
Another fallen tree trapped a woman in her car for more than an hour, the paramedic told reporters.
“It was like a disaster zone, there were trees all over the road,” Newton added, describing how the wind uprooted trees and toppled roofs.
The weather office predicted severe thunderstorms, strong squalls and heavy rain with hail for Tuesday.
A flood warning has also been issued for a river about 40km from the Gold Coast.