Photos of Australia's wild storms have made global headlines.
A common site across Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAPThe hailstorm in the national capital damaged public buildings, businesses, homes and cars, cut power to some suburbs, brought down trees, caused flash flooding and injured two people, emergency services officials said.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency received a record 1900 calls for help as hail smashed through the region, according to the ABC. Research facilities including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation were badly damaged. COO Judi Zielke said 65 glasshouses were hit and years of research were left in ruin. The Insurance Council of Australia declared the storm a “catastrophe”. In Canberra, more than 11,000 claims had been lodged for damaged vehicles and homes. That number was closer to 20,000 in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.A car damaged by a fallen tree at Caringbah on Tuesday. Picture: AAP Image/Joel CarrettSource:News Corp AustraliaAbout 14,000 homes and businesses lost power after strong winds, lightning and hail struck the Sutherland Shire and northern beaches areas, according to Ausgrid.Emergency Services Minister David Elliott has warned of debris in rainfall run-off in fire-affected areas. “Run-off from rainfall in fire-affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid resulting in flash flooding which may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks,” Mr Elliott said in a statement. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse also said fire-affected areas could experience quick run-off, flash flooding and roadways covered by ash and debris.Storm clouds gather over Sydney Harbour. Picture: Peter Parks/AFPA mangled shed is pictured submerged in a suburban Sydney backyard pool.“Due to the fire and drought conditions, quite a lot of the vegetation is weakened and this means that trees and trees’ branches are going to be much more likely to come down due to wind gust or a bit of heavy hail,” Ms Woodhouse said. Temperatures are forecast to increase slightly closer to Wednesday and Thursday, with a spike in heat expected particularly for Thursday and Friday and a possible elevation of fire danger. The fires have claimed at least 28 lives since September, destroyed more than 2600 homes and razed more than 10.4 million hectares.Authorities have warned the fire danger will escalate this week in both states with rising temperatures and drier conditions.
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