Australia’s eastern states faced severe storm during the Christmas holidays, killing the lives of at least 10 people in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. The storms, by destructive winds, torrential rain, and flooding, have brought sorrow to communities already struggling with recent natural disasters, including major floods and bushfires.
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The storms took a toll on lives, with a nine-year-old girl, Mia Holland-McCormack, among the victims. Her body was discovered in a flooded storm drain after she went missing.
In addition to Mia, three men lost their lives after a yacht capsized near Moreton Bay, and two women were found dead north of Brisbane after being swept away by floodwaters into a storm drain. The storms also claimed lives through falling trees and other incidents.
Emergency services and water rescue teams were mobilized to conduct search and rescue operations in affected areas. With reports of people being swept away.
The storms had damage, tearing roofs off homes, uprooting trees, and even destroying concrete-based electricity poles a rare occurrence according to Queensland Premier Steven Miles.
Tens of thousands of homes were left without power in Queensland alone, with the state-owned Energex power company estimating that restoring the power grid could take days.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles expressed the nature of the storms, noting that concrete power poles had never been destroyed by a storm before.
This concerns about the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, pointing towards the impacts of climate change. The storms came in the major floods caused by Cyclone Jasper.
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Australia’s recent string of environmental challenges, including severe droughts, bushfires, record floods, and mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef.
The country is experiencing an El Niño weather event, known for contributing to extreme events such as wildfires and cyclones.
Climate experts, including Simon Bradshaw of the Climate Council, address the need for urgent action to address climate change, as outlined in the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
The loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods leaves lasting scars, necessitating support for those struggling with trauma.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings about the possibility of thunderstorms, addressing the importance of preparedness and vigilance.
While the immediate forecast suggests an improvement in conditions, the climate patterns, such as the ongoing El Niño.
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The storms also impacted the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race, causing damage to participating vessels.
The challenges faced by participants, including lightning and thunder, show the nature of the weather conditions and the risks associated with maritime activities during such events.
From severe droughts and bushfires to record floods and mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the country has been struggling with the impacts of climate change.
The current El Niño weather event, associated with extreme phenomena like wildfires and cyclones.
Climate experts, including Simon Bradshaw from the Climate Council, stress that urgent action is needed to address climate change.
The storms come just after major floods caused by Cyclone Jasper just over a week ago, where some areas experienced more than a year’s worth of rain in a matter of days.
This follows a series of heatwaves that fueled bushfires in states like New South Wales. Australia’s vulnerability to such events is evident, and the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report addresses that without urgent action, the country can expect a future by increasingly severe climate related disasters.
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