Storms leave a trail of carnage

FEROCIOUS winds have brought a tree down on top of a car in Victoria and left a child fighting for life, as rough seas snapped the end off a pier.

Two other people have been taken to hospital from the crushed car, while a fourth person was still trapped in the wreckage yesterday afternoon.

The State Emergency Service received 424 calls for help across Victoria in 24 hours, with the Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast bearing the brunt of the damage yesterday morning.

Ambulance Victoria said three people had been rescued from a car in the Yarra Ranges after high winds brought a tree down on top of them.

Two helicopters were sent to the Black Spur after the 9.40am crash, taking a child in a critical condition and another child in a stable condition to the Royal Children’s Hospital. A man with serious injuries was flown to The Alfred hospital.

Rough seas have also claimed the tip of Frankston’s pier (pictured), which snapped off and floated away.

A spokeswoman for the SES said Melbourne’s southeast was experiencing high tides and wind gusts of 90 to 100km/h.

“What’s left of the pier is still copping an absolute pummelling at the moment,” the Department of Transport’s Chris Miller told 3AW radio yesterday.

Parks Victoria said the pier was due to be redeveloped anyway.

A severe weather warning remained in place yesterday for the damaging winds covering most of the state, as gusts hit 120km/h.

“Be aware of potential hazards caused by the severe weather. Hazards include damaged buildings, trees down, fallen power lines, debris and coastal erosion,” the warning read.

Blizzard conditions were expected across alpine areas, with snow expected above 500m and flurries possible for the Dandenong Ranges.

Icy temperatures were also set to continue across the state, with Melbourne headed for a top of 11C today.

WHAT’S LEFT OF THE PIER IS STILL COPPING AN ABSOLUTE PUMMELLING

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT’S CHRIS MILLER