Wild weather cuts power, sparks bushfires in Australia (updated)

AGL Energy

14/02/2024 01:23

(Adds man's death in paragraph 7, premier's quotes in
paragraphs 3-4, minister's quote in paragraph 6, updates from
AGL and energy operator)
    By Renju Jose
       SYDNEY, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of
residents across Australia's Victoria state remained without
power on Wednesday after wild weather knocked down transmission
lines and sparked bushfires that injured five firefighters.
    Strong winds on Tuesday forced down transmission lines,
tripping the generators at AGL's  AGL.AX  Loy Yang A power
station. The outage impacted half a million properties, one of
the largest in Victoria's history.
    About 220,000 homes or businesses were still without power
on Wednesday morning, Victoria state Premier Jacinta Allan told
reporters.
    "We are still less than 24 hours into the emergency response
phase and the situation is continuing to quickly evolve," Allan
said.      
    AGL said two units at the power station had returned to
service while the remaining two could be back up over the next
24 hours. Australia's energy market operator said it could take
weeks to restore power to all impacted customers.
    "We've got houses in our street which have just been
completely smashed by trees. There are cars that have been
destroyed," Federal Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said in a
video posted on X, formerly Twitter.
    Authorities said one man was killed by flying debris in the
south of the state. Train services on some Melbourne routes were
suspended, and at least 10 schools and dozens of childcare
centres were closed.
    Australia's biggest telecommunications company, Telstra
 TLS.AX , said storms had affected its services in some regions.
    
    BUSHFIRES 
    In the state's west, firefighters battling to contain three
bushfires sparked by lighting on Tuesday were hoping a change in
the weather could help contain the blazes quickly. 
    Five firefighters received minor burns after becoming
trapped while trying to douse bushfires ignited by lightning
strikes during the storm near the Grampians National Park in
Victoria's west, said Jason Heffernan, chief officer at Victoria
state's fire department.
    "Certainly a close call for the crew that got entrapped.
Such were the conditions yesterday, the heat, the wind and the 
fire intensity," Heffernan told ABC television.
    Australia's weather bureau forecast milder conditions on
Wednesday with temperatures in the low to mid-20 degree Celsius
(68°F) and moderate winds, but warned the risk was not over yet.
    

 (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Bill Berkrot and
Stephen Coates)
 ((renju.jose@thomsonreuters.com; +61 29171 7126; Reuters
Messaging: @renjujose))