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NSW Storms: Woman Dies as Tree Branch Crushes Car
17 Jan
Summary
- A woman died when a tree branch fell on her car during severe storms.
- The incident occurred on the Illawarra Highway, south of Wollongong.
- Over 880 people have sought SES assistance due to severe weather.
A woman has died after her car was struck by a falling tree branch on the Illawarra Highway in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. The fatal incident occurred around 4pm on Saturday, with the highway expected to remain closed. This tragedy unfolds as severe storms and heavy rain continue to batter Australia's east coast, impacting areas from the Illawarra to the Central Coast.
More than 880 calls for assistance have been received by the SES since the severe weather began, with volunteers responding to flood rescues, leaking roofs, and fallen trees. Coastal areas are facing the risk of intense thunderstorms, bringing significant rainfall, strong winds, and hail. Several locations have already recorded high rainfall totals in a short period, prompting concerns of dangerous flash flooding.
Meanwhile, parts of Victoria are undergoing clean-up efforts after torrential rain caused rivers to overflow along the Great Ocean Road, swamping campgrounds and damaging vehicles. This extreme weather event has led to significant flooding and disruption, with disaster assistance now announced for affected communities.
