AUSTRALIA – Destructive winds battered Australia’s south-eastern states, causing road accidents and power cuts.
Dozens of flights from airports in Sydney and Melbourne were cancelled on Friday as winds gusted up to 120km/h (75 mph) in some areas.
Authorities said part of the Frankston Pier in Melbourne had broken off as gales whipped up rough seas.
Meteorologists called it the region’s coldest weather system of the year.
More than 8,000 houses in South Australia lost power after thunderstorms swept through the state on Thursday.
Australia has experienced several extreme weather events in the past year, including floods, bushfires and cyclones.(BBC)
