SYDNEY, May 31 (Xinhua) -- More than 30,000 power customers in Perth metropolitan and some other regions in Western Australia (WA) were without power as of 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, as strong winds battered the state.
The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in a Storm Watch and Act message that emergency response crews of the local electricity network operator were working to address more than 160 hazards and outages caused by severe storm conditions.
DFES said that the damaging and destructive winds associated with the storm front had thrown debris, including tree branches, into the network, damaging equipment and bringing down powerlines.
DFES said significant roof damage had occurred to apartment buildings in Cottesloe and Bunbury, warning that strong winds could cause roofing materials and debris to become airborne.
It also warned that rarely experienced winds may bring down trees, branches and powerlines and may cause loose items and debris to become airborne.
According to the DFES, widespread damaging westerly winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to 110 km/h are likely over western parts of WA's South West Land Division from this Sunday afternoon and continuing into early Monday morning. Destructive wind gusts in excess of 125 km/h are likely over an area southwest of a line from Lancelin to Albany, including Perth, during Sunday afternoon and evening. ■