A woman has been killed and two are critically injured after a tree and other debris fell on them as a storm swept across Sydney.
The tree fell in a car park at Ocean Street, Narrabeen at 3.30pm, killing the woman in her 70s, NSW Ambulance said.
Two other women, one in her 70s and another in her late teens, were rushed to Northern Beaches Hospital in a “critical” condition, as the ferocious storm swept the area after a record day of heat.
Inspector Christie Marks from NSW Ambulance called the accident “tragic.”
“These women were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when this storm hit,” she said.
“As you can imagine the patients had multiple injuries after being hit by falling branches and other debris.
“We worked to treat them at the scene and get them to hospital for further care.”
“The strength of the storm is evident in the destruction it caused.
“Given the size of this tree it’s remarkable that there weren’t more people injured.”
Numerous powerlines and other trees were downed in the storm, and people are being told not to travel.
Apartment rooves have also been ripped off, with cars also damaged.
Over 140 emergency calls were made to NSW Fire and Rescue, and more than 250 to the SES.
Ausgrid reports power is out in a vast swathe of the Northern Beaches, with more than 25,000 homes affected in the Dee Why and Cromer areas alone.
It’s understood a tree fell on a substation, with power expected to be out until around 10pm.
Parts of Sydney’s North Shore have also lost power, including in St Ives and North Turramurra.
Mobile company Optus also said online there was an” issue” with one of its mobile towers on the city’s north shore, with reports of no coverage.
NSW Police said they have had “multiple” calls for assistance, and told people to avoid travelling.
Earlier, Weatherzone said Sydney had experienced its warmest day since January, and it’s hottest December day since 2019.
The temperature reached 35C in the City and Bankstown and 36C at the airport.
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Storms were forecast from the late afternoon.
Source: 9News
