A woman has been killed after a large tree branch fell onto her car during severe storms lashing the east coast of Australia. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Illawarra Highway at Macquarie Pass, south of Wollongong in New South Wales.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The woman, who has not yet been publicly identified, was driving at approximately 4pm when the bough struck her vehicle. A male front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries, while two people travelling in the back were physically unharmed. Emergency services attended the scene, and the Illawarra Highway remains closed while investigations continue.
Widespread Storm Damage and Flooding
This fatality comes as a severe weather system batters the state's east coast, from the Illawarra region up to the Central Coast. The storms have brought intense rainfall, leading to localised flash flooding. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has received more than 880 calls for assistance since the severe weather began, with most requests coming from metropolitan areas.
NSW SES spokeswoman Emily Barton reported that volunteers were actively responding to numerous incidents, including flood rescues, leaking roofs, and fallen trees. "We've got volunteers out responding, as we speak, to flood rescues," she said, noting the rain had been experienced "far and wide" across the state.
Record Rainfall and Ongoing Warnings
Several areas have experienced extraordinary rainfall totals. Ettalong on the Central Coast saw 93.5mm fall in just one hour, while Pearl Beach recorded 133mm in two hours earlier in the day. Other significant totals included:
- Gosford: 56.6mm in one hour
- Bensville: 66mm
- Koolewong: 71mm
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that severe storms with heavy rain could affect areas including Hornsby, Sutherland, and Sydney Airport. The weather system is likely to produce intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding. A strong wind warning is also in effect for the Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra, and Batemans coasts.
The disruption has extended to travel, with flights delayed at Sydney Airport and several city beaches closed for safety.
Clean-Up Underway in Victoria
Meanwhile, in Victoria, clean-up operations are progressing after torrential rain caused the Wye, Kennett, and Cumberland rivers to overflow along the Great Ocean Road. The Lorne weather station registered its highest 24-hour rainfall total since records began in 1884, with over 178mm falling in six hours. The deluge swamped campgrounds, displaced vehicles, and left multiple cars stranded in the surf, with authorities estimating between 10 and 20 vehicles were lost.
Disaster assistance has now been announced for the flood-affected communities, with funding provided to local councils to establish emergency relief centres.
