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Wild weather: woman killed by falling tree

Story Added : 30th June 2009

A woman has died after being struck by a falling tree as high winds and heavy rain lashed Victoria this afternoon.

Police say the 49-year-old woman was hit by a falling gum tree at the Highview Christian Community College in Maryborough about 3:30pm (AEST).

She was taken to hospital with serious head and internal injuries, but died a short time later.

The wild weather has damaged homes and brought down power lines.

The State Emergency Service (SES) says it has received more than 400 calls for help, and about 20,000 homes are without power.

Doc Doherty from the SES says the winds caused widespread damage in the state's west.

"There's been roof damage, parts of roofs blown off. There's been broken glass, building damage in that regard where debris has gone through windows and the like," he said.

"There's been trees down onto buildings, onto roads, which makes it dangerous for people using those roads."

Damian Batie from PowerCor says crews will be busy "right through this evening and possibly even into tomorrow morning".

The weather bureau says the weather front has moved from the west into Melbourne, with strong winds expected to buffet the city over the next few hours.

Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 30th June 2009

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