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On Monday, during a busy thunderstorm, four individuals were transported to the hospital after being hit by lightning near the Sydney Opera House.
According to ambulance workers, the individuals affected were two males and two females who were seeking refuge under a tree near the entrance of the Botanic Gardens in Sydney. They were hit by a lightning strike.
On Monday, Sydney was experiencing severe power outages due to heavy rainfall. According to Ausgrid, there were 10 unexpected outages affecting 843 locations, and 43 planned outages throughout the city.
According to Dominic Wong, a spokesperson for the New South Wales Ambulance Service, the individuals struck by lightning experienced burns, cardiac symptoms, and a temporary loss of consciousness.
According to Al Jazeera, Mr. Wong advised boaters to find shelter on land instead of seeking shelter under a tree.
A male in his late teens and a female in her 20s were transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Additionally, a male and a female in their 30s were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital. All four individuals are currently in stable condition.
Firefighters were summoned to a residential fire caused by a lightning strike around 2:20pm in Baulkham Hills.
The BoM and State Emergency Service have both released alerts for potential flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology stated that there is a broad warning for intense thunderstorms in the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Northern Tablelands, Illawarra and Central West Slopes and Plains regions. The BoM also warned of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms due to a series of troughs in the area.
There is a high chance that intense thunderstorms will cause significant amounts of rain, potentially resulting in flash flooding within the designated warning zone within the next few hours.
“Possible areas that could experience impact include Newcastle, Scone, Armidale, Inverell, Bundarra, and Quirindi.”
Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns of the NSW State Emergency Service issued a statement advising drivers to avoid driving through floodwaters.
Mr. Kearns stated that there are currently warnings for heavy rainfall, which may result in flash flooding. He advises the public to listen to emergency personnel and not to drive through flooded areas.
Sydney Trains has advised commuters to postpone their travel if feasible or find alternate means of transportation.
Al Jazeera reported that in Sydney, 30 flights were cancelled due to the airport’s primary runway being closed for 20 minutes after it was struck by lightning, causing damage to the tarmac.
Source: independent.co.uk
