FLASHFLOODS HIT MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

[tropicana]

Flash floods hit Melbourne

January 30, 2004
FLASH floods struck several inner-city Melbourne suburbs Thursday, soaking roads, homes and businesses in up to half a metre of water in some areas.

State Emergency Services (SES) spokesman Wayne Roberts said the freak storm hit first at 1pm (AEDT) and then again at 5pm, dumping more than 60mm of rain in just under an hour each time.

The worst-affected areas were St Albans and Deer Park in the city's north-east, and the inner-eastern suburbs of Malvern, Kew and Hawthorn.

"More than the monthly average of rain has come down in an hour," Mr Roberts said.

"It was basically poured from a bucket over those whole areas."
The SES received more than 450 calls from distressed residents, several whose homes had been severely water-logged due to blocked drains.

A St Albans childcare centre was evacuated after suffering structural damage from the flooding, while a pet shop in the same area lost part of its roof.

Mr Roberts said SES flood rescue boats were sent to help people reportedly trapped in cars on the Monash Freeway, near Toorak Road, but the water subsided before they arrived.

Two buildings were also hit by lightning, he said.

According to the SES, up to 35 emergency crews were still tending to the damage.

-justin-

[tropicana]

Man killed by lightning storm

January 30, 2004
A MAN was killed by a lightning strike as a series of storms hit south-east Queensland today (Friday).

The 50-year-old was hit at a farm near Gympie about 3.30pm (AEST) and pronounced dead at the scene, a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokeswoman said.

The storms brought down powerlines, uprooted trees and whipped roofs off buildings.

A tree was uprooted at the University of Queensland campus at St Lucia, in inner-western Brisbane, injuring two children.

The QAS spokeswoman said a six-year-old and a nine-year-old were taken to hospital with head injuries after the tree fell on them.

The children were part of a group of visiting Korean school students.

The roof of a block of home units at New Farm, in inner-Brisbane, was blown off as the storms wreaked havoc.

"I thought I was going to die," said resident Steve Rodgers, who was in his top-floor unit as the storm hit.

"A galeforce wind hit and the roof started to peel off and I'm looking backwards and it's going over into the next street.

"I was worried about flying debris because there was so much wind around."

Mr Rodgers said he ran for the smallest room in the house – the toilet.

"I've never been so glad to go to the toilet in my life," he said.

The racing journalist had to ring fire officers to rescue him after the storm.

"The corridors were blocked with debris and fallen power lines," he said.
-justin-