‘Once-in-five-year storm’ wreaks havoc on Perth, 70,000 remain without power

More than 69,000 homes across Western Australia remain without power after a ‘once-in-every-five-year’ storm swept through the state’s south at the weekend.

The low-pressure system, which on Monday was tracking south-east, generated rare destructive winds, upending trees, downing power lines and turning roads into rivers.

A cyclone-grade wind gust of 135km/h was recorded at Cape Leeuwin on Sunday afternoon, while Rottnest Island recorded a maximum gust of 102km/h, Mandurah 104km/h, and Jandakot 100km/hr.

On Sunday night, 6 per cent of the state’s electricity grid was disconnected, with thousands of customers impacted.

Western Power crews overnight attended more than 160 hazards, including fallen power lines and outages.

“We recommend affected customers prepare for extended outages with many customers expected to be without power overnight [Sunday],” an Emergency WA alert said.

“Western Power’s priority is responding to reported hazards to ensure the safety of the community and our crews.

“Due to the severe weather and dangerous winds, Western Power crews cannot currently undertake repair works as it is unsafe to operate equipment like elevated work platforms or conduct network patrols via helicopter.”

The State Emergency Service received more than 685 calls for assistance, with one family finding a neighbour’s shed in their pool on Sunday.

The highest number of calls for help were in the Perth metropolitan area, follow by Peel and the South West region. Most requests related to roof damage, water ingress, fallen trees, structural damage and localised flooding.

A three-storey apartment building in Cottesloe has sustained significant roof damage, which debris airborne, while another building in Bunbury also had its roof torn off.

Four flights into Perth were also diverted, forced to land in Kalgoorlie due to the severe weather conditions, with vision at Perth Airport showing containers flying through the air.

Winds at the airport reached 93km/h at 7pm on Sunday.

A storm watch and act alert remains in place for Perth, the Gascoyne, the Goldfields, the South West and the Great Southern, however the most severe winds have eased.