Weather chaos hits Victoria as wildfires rage out of control, 500,000 Australians lose power and hail hits – and a storm ravages Sydney
- 500,000 homes in Victoria without power
- State hit by forest fires and hailstones
Half a million Victorians have been plunged into darkness after the region's largest power station closed as wild weather and bushfires battered the state.
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, sending wholesale energy prices soaring.
High winds reportedly toppled two transmission towers, preventing them from transmitting electricity and knocking the power plant offline.
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio revealed that 500,000 people were left without power due to the 'physical collapse of cell towers'.
“The situation remains volatile,” Ms D'Ambrosio added.
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
Bushfires raged in parts of western Victoria, forcing many people to flee their homes (stock image)
Emma Tyner, a spokesperson for Citipower and Powercor, said 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.”
It came as bushfires raged in parts of western Victoria, forcing many people to flee their homes.
Many people were forced to flee their homes, while others were told it was 'too late to leave' and were ordered to seek shelter
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat (pictured)
Authorities have issued an emergency 'too late to leave' warning to people in Bellfield, Lake Fyans and Pomonal after an out-of-control bushfire swept through the area.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan urged residents to seek 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 flooding on Tuesday evening.
Melbourne and surrounding suburbs were lashed by rain and hail on Tuesday afternoon.
Hailstones the size of golf balls fell in Ballarat.
More to come.