Lightning Storm Caused Massive Blackouts In Australian State

Xinhua

Canberra: Tens of thousands of South Australians have been left without electricity after an intense lightning storm swept across the state on Monday night, causing widespread damage and leaving an emergency services volunteer in hospital.

According to South Australia (SA) Power Networks, 23,000 households and businesses across the state were without power as of 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning.

The State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 250 calls for assistance after 5:30 p.m. on Monday, mostly due to fallen trees and branches after wind speeds exceeded 100 km per hour.

The weather zone recorded about 45,000 lightning strikes between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., revealed SA Power Networks Spokesperson Paul Roberts.

We’re facing lightning strikes on things like insulators and powerlines, and tree limbs and trees fall onto the power lines as well. There’s a big job ahead of us, and we’ll be working closely, obviously, with the SES, Roberts added.