A 77-year-old man has died and a 73-year-old woman has been critically injured after a tree fell onto their car in Victoria's south-west. The incident occurred on Main Road at Gellibrand, in the Otways, around 1:30pm. Emergency crews freed the pair, both from Forster in New South Wales, but the man died at the scene. The woman was airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
The tragedy unfolded as destructive winds swept across Victoria and parts of New South Wales, causing widespread damage. The Victorian State Emergency Service reported over 1,000 requests for help in 24 hours, with 800 related to fallen trees and the rest for building damage. A house in Glen Waverley was damaged when a large tree collapsed, but no injuries occurred there.
In New South Wales, firefighters battled a grass blaze in Sydney's south-west, fanned by strong winds. Emergency crews evacuated a building in Wollongong's CBD due to concerns about wind damage. The NSW State Emergency Service responded to about 100 calls, mainly for fallen trees and roof damage. Power outages affected thousands in the Illawarra and South Coast regions, with Endeavour Energy restoring power to many by mid-morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported wind gusts of up to 135 km/h at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria and 128 km/h at Mount Buller. Senior forecaster Kevin Parkyn said the winds would ease by Wednesday evening but warned of another system on Friday. He added that the weekend would bring more wind and showers. Tasmania also faced severe weather, leaving thousands without power.
