Thousands without power in Western Australia as worst storm in years hits

Wild weather downed trees and left tens of thousands of homes without power in Western Australia, as emergency services began cleaning up in Perth yesterday after some of the worst weather seen in a decade.

Wind speeds of up to 132 kilometres an hour were registered yesterday at Cape Leeuwin, one of the state’s most south-westerly points. They were the strongest May gusts in 15 years, according to the Australia Broadcasting Corporation.

“Some wild weather has affected large parts of Western Australia, causing widespread damage and large-scale power outages. Please listen to the advice of emergency services and stay safe everyone,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote on social media.

About 50,000 customers were without power yesterday because of cuts caused by the storm, utility company Western Power said as the remnants of Cyclone Mangga hit a cold front and brought squalling rain and storm warnings to the south of the state.

“New damage from the windborne debris has meant the overall number of impacted homes and businesses remains high,” the company said on Twitter.

More than 390 calls for assistance were made to the state’s emergency services since Sunday, mostly from the Perth metropolitan area, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Chief Superintendent Danny Mosconi told ABC Radio.

Pilbara Ports Authority said operations in the area had not been affected, but elevated swell led to some minor shipping schedule changes at the Port of Dampier – about 1,500 kilometres from Perth – which is used by mining company Rio Tinto.

The biggest oil and gas operators in Western Australia, Chevron, Woodside Petroleum and Santos, said there was no effect on their operations in the minerals-rich state from the heavy weather.

Minerals, oil and gas company BHP said there was no major effect on its operations from the weather, while Rio Tinto declined to make any comment.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged people to stay safe after wild weather swept the west of the country

EPA A lorry crosses floodwater by the Swan River in the north of Perth, Western Australia, where thousands of homes and businesses were left without power after heavy rain

Reuters Shops in Perth bear the scars of strong winds and heavy rains after gusts of up to 132kph were reported