- 500,000 homes in Victoria without power
- State hit by wild bushfires and hail stones
Half a million Victorians have been plunged into darkness after the region’s largest power station shut down, as the state has been battered by wild weather and bushfires.
Some households could be without power for days after AGL Energy’s Loy Yang A coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley shut down just after 2pm on Tuesday, causing wholesale energy prices to soar.
High winds reportedly toppled two transmission towers, leaving them unable to transmit electricity and causing the power station to go offline.
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio revealed that 500,000 people were left without power due to the ‘physical collapse of transmission towers’.
‘The situation remains volatile,’ Ms D’Ambrosio added.
Some households could be without power for days after AGL Energy’s Loy Yang A coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley (pictured) shut down just after 2pm on Tuesday, causing wholesale energy prices to soar
Bushfires raged across parts of western Victoria, with many people forced to flee their homes (stock image)
Emma Tyner, a spokesperson for Citipower and Powercor, said it could take ‘days’ for the power to be restored after high winds and lightning strikes damaged electrical infrastructure.
‘It’s very widespread, from the western suburbs of Melbourne, Bendigo, through the inner suburbs of Melbourne, Ballarat, Maryborough, Charlton, Shepparton,’ Ms Tyner told the ABC.
‘The band of lightning and extraordinary wind that we’ve seen push through the state has caused extensive damage and we’re still seeing this weather pattern pass through.’
It came as bushfires raged across parts of western Victoria, with many people forced to flee their homes.
Many people forced to flee their homes, while others were told it was ‘too late to leave’ and ordered to seek shelter
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat (pictured)
Authorities issued a ‘too late to leave’ emergency warning for people in Bellfield, Lake Fyans and Pomonal after a out-of-control bush fire tore through the surrounding area.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan urged residents to find shelter immediately.
Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of west and south Gippsland.
Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding on Tuesday evening.
Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs were battered by rain and hail on Tuesday afternoon.
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat, while parts of Melbourne saw major flooding.
Winds were so strong they brought down a tree in Clayton, in the city’s south east, with its roots ripping up the footpath.
More to come.
