Storms fuel bushfires, blast half the nation: [2 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Sep 2002: 6.
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Abstract
The State Emergency Service reported more than 50 bushfires raging across South Australia as trees were uprooted, houses unroofed and powerlines brought down. Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Augusta were all badly hit.
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STORMS lashed much of the southern half of the continent yesterday, from Western Australia to Victoria.
Winds gusting up to 120km/h lashed South Australia yesterday afternoon before cutting a swath across western Victoria.
The winds fanned bushfires and caused millions of dollars worth of damage.
The State Emergency Service reported more than 50 bushfires raging across South Australia as trees were uprooted, houses unroofed and powerlines brought down. Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Augusta were all badly hit.
“Scores of houses have lost their roofs, sheds were blown all over the place, trees fell on to buildings and there are miles of powerlines down, which must be causing blackouts,” an SES spokesman said.
In Victoria, emergency workers were bracing for a hectic night across the state, including Melbourne. The winds followed one of the hottest September days on record, increasing the risk of major bushfires.
In the west, thousands of homes remained without power yesterday after severe storms lashed Perth and surrounding areas over the weekend. About 45,000 homes were left without power on Saturday night.
Gale conditions and high seas are forecast for southern areas of the east coast and further inland.