The 2007 Hunter region and Central Coast storms commenced on Friday, 8 June 2007 and caused extensive flooding, damage and loss of life in the Hunter Region and the Central Coast in New South Wales in Australia. An intense low pressure system developed off the central coast of New South Wales on the night of Thursday 7 June and over the next 36 hours the state's Hunter and Central Coast areas were battered by the system's strong winds and torrential rain. A number of fatalities occurred at the height of the storms on 8 June with two more storm related deaths occurring on 9 June bringing the total death toll to 10. A family of four and a nephew were killed when a section of road collapsed under their car as they drove along the Pacific Highway at Somersby on the Central Coast. Two people died when their four-wheel drive was swept off a bridge by floodwaters at Clarence Town and a man died near Lambton when he was swept into a stormwater drain. The following day, a man died when a tree fell onto his vehicle at Brunkerville. Another man died during a house fire that it is believed was started by a candle being used during the blackouts caused by the storm.[1] [2]
Rainfall exceeded 300 mm in the Hunter region and 200 mm in parts of the Central Coast and Sydney. New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma declared a natural disaster for the affected areas. Nearly 6000 State Emergency Service volunteers, including crews from across New South Wales, ACT, Queensland and Victoria worked in the area and responded to over 10,000 calls for assistance. At one point, more than 105,000 homes were without power.
A bulk carrier, the MV Pasha Bulker, was beached at Nobbys Beach at Newcastle after it failed to heed a warning to move out to sea to escape the approaching storm.[3]. The Newcastle Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service used both of their aircraft to winch the Pasha Bulker crew to safety, 22 crew were safety transported to Nobbys Beach parking lot. Once the rescue was completed the aircraft had to abandon the flight back to their Broadmeadow base due to issues caused by lack of visibility and wind.
On the evening of Sunday 10 June, approximately 4000 residents in the Hunter Valley including residents of central Maitland, South Maitland and Lorn were forced to evacuate their homes in anticipation that the Hunter River would breach its levee.[4] Evacuation centres were set up at East Maitland and Maitland High School. However by the morning of the 11 June the flood water had peaked without breaking the levee bank.[5]
See also
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Wikinews has related news: Worst storm in thirty years hits Newcastle, Australia |
References
- ^ "Body find brings toll to nine". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-06-10. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/body-find-brings-toll-to-nine/2007/06/10/1181414111373.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1.
- ^ Michael Warner (11 June 2007). "Floods spark disease fear". Herald Sun Newspaper. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21883398-661,00.html.
- ^ Ben Cubby and Edmund Tadros (2007-06-09). "Ships ignored warning to leave". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ships-ignored-warning-to-leave/2007/06/08/1181089338446.html.
- ^ "Floodwaters 'will breach levee'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-06-10. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/floodwaters-will-breach-levee/2007/06/10/1181414117385.html.
- ^ "Central Maitland escapes peak of Hunter flood". News Online (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2007-06-11. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1947341.htm.
External links
- State Emergency Service New South Wales
- newcastleflood.com
- Slideshow of pictures the June long weekend storm (8 June 2007)
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