Nearly 400,000 Victorians were still without power after storms destroyed power lines
Nearly 400,000 Victorians were still without power late on Tuesday night after the region's largest power station was closed as the state battled severe storms, high winds and bushfires.
Many 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, sending wholesale energy prices soaring.
High winds reportedly toppled two transmission towers, preventing them from transmitting electricity and knocking the power plant offline.
It comes as Melbourne and surrounding regions were lashed by storms, heavy rain and hail on Tuesday afternoon.
More than half a million Victorians were left without power at the height of the wild weather.
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, who described the storm as “one of the largest power outage events in the state's history”, revealed that 375,000 households were still without power shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
Areas affected include Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat, Maryborough, Charlton and Shepparton.
Some households could be without power for days after AGL Energy's Loy Yang coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley (pictured) shut down just after 2pm on Tuesday, sending wholesale energy prices soaring
High winds reportedly toppled two transmission towers, preventing them from transmitting electricity and knocking the power plant offline (pictured)
Meanwhile, parts of Melbourne were hit by heavy rain on Tuesday (Photo: A commuter takes shelter from the rain)
“Power restored to another 82,000 Victorians by 11.15pm,” Ms D'Ambrosio tweeted.
'375,000 people are still without power, including 7,800 people who are dependent on electricity.
'At its peak, 529,000 people were without power due to physical damage to power lines caused by extreme weather. Crews are working overnight to restore power.”
Emma Tyner, a spokesperson for Citipower and Powercor, admitted it could take “days” for 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 newspaper. ABC.
“The lightning and unusual winds we've seen moving through the state have caused extensive damage and we continue to see this weather pattern unfold.”
In response, Australia's energy market operator has ordered electricity consumption to be reduced across the network, according to a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
Elsewhere, residents were forced to flee their homes in western Victoria as bushfires sparked by dry lightning raged, with some property reportedly lost to the flames near Pomonal.
The order to leave applies immediately to those in Halls Gap, Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Dadswells Bridge, Ledcourt, Roses Gap and Wartook (photo: a shot from Pomonal where homes are said to have been lost to the to burn)
Residents and holidaymakers in the Grampians National Park were told to evacuate immediately due to two raging fires in Bellfield and Mount Stapylton.
The immediate departure orders apply to those in Halls Gap, Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Dadswells Bridge, Ledcourt, Roses Gap and Wartook.
The fire at Mount Stapylton is likely to spread towards Dadswells Bridge and Ledcourt, but conditions are 'dangerous and unpredictable', the emergency website said.
People affected by the fire have been told to head towards Stawell, with authorities warning the Western Highway is closed between Horsham and the Warracknabeal-Stawell Rd intersection.
The Bellfield fire is moving south towards Pomonal, with people affected by the fire being told to head towards Ararat via Ararat Halls Gap Rd.
About 38 schools and 17 early childhood centers have been closed due to the dangerous conditions.
A watch and action advisory is also issued for the whole of Melbourne, stretching from Port Phillip Bay to the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, with hail falling in some areas.
A catastrophic fire danger rating has been declared for the Wimmera region, extreme fire danger is forecast for the Mallee, a high danger rating is in place for the rest of Victoria except East Gippsland, and a total fire ban is in place across much of the state .
Melbourne and surrounding regions were lashed by rain, hail and intense heavy storms on Tuesday afternoon, uprooting trees.
Commuters in Melbourne are being battered by heavy rain and strong winds
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat, while parts of Melbourne suffered major flooding and many trees uprooted in urban areas (pictured)
Many people were forced to flee their homes, while others were told it was 'too late to leave' and were ordered to seek shelter
It is the first catastrophic score since the Black Summer of 2019-2020, one of Australia's most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record.
Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of West and South Gippsland.
Melbourne and surrounding suburbs were lashed by storms, rain and hail on Tuesday afternoon as the state control center issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city.
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat, while parts of Melbourne experienced major flooding and many trees uprooted in urban areas.
Storm damage affected the rail network, with commuters experiencing lengthy delays and bus replacement services on some lines.
Commuters in Melbourne took cover from the rain on Tuesday afternoon