Authorities in eastern Australia have declared a natural disaster following severe storms that have caused widespread damage, including downed trees and power outages affecting tens of thousands of homes.
Heavy rain, lightning, and winds reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour (60 mph) have battered Sydney and other areas in New South Wales, since Wednesday.
As of Saturday, about 30,000 properties remained without electricity, a significant reduction from a peak of over 260,000, according to the state’s emergency services minister, Jihad Dib.
Emergency services have responded to more than 7,000 incidents across the state, highlighting the extensive impact of the storms.
So far, disaster declarations have been made in three local government areas, enabling support for residents in need of emergency housing, essential supplies, repairs, and cleanup assistance.
Tragically, an elderly man lost his life when a tree fell on his car during the storms in Cowra, approximately 230 kilometers (143 miles) west of Sydney.
As the situation develops, local authorities continue to assess the damage and provide necessary aid to affected communities.
