DAMAGE BY GALE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 5

DAMAGE BY GALE

VISITATION IN SYDNEY. VELOCITY 94 MILES AN! HOUR. '. • v LIKE A TORANDO. (United Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, October 31. One of the most violent storms of brief duration struck the' metropolitan area at 3.15 p.m. to-day and did extensive damage. The storm Avas heralded by a sudden oppressiveness, heavy black clouds plunging the city in semi-darkness.

Then a south-AA'esterly gale of 9! miles an hour struck the city like a. tornado, carrying paper and debris high into the sky. It lifted roofs off railway sheds at Homebush and Rozelle, and brought doAvn awnings, fences, trees, chimneys, and overhead poAver lines in various suburbs. Traffic in the city Avas brought practically to a standstill. Some electric train services were disorganised. Trams and motor-ears Avere compelled to turn on lights as a 'precaution in the semidarkness, Avhicli was repeatedly illuminated by Advid flashes of lightning.

A crane at a coal siding at Balls Head crashed, imprisoning the engineer in the cabin. Cottages in Kensington, Concord, and some northern suburbs had their roofs bloAvn off. Fires Avere started by fallen electric. Avires.

A mysterious explosion resembling a * fireball occurred in the shopping centre of Naremburn suburb, and considerably damaged two shops. Fences collapsed over a Avide area.

HARBOUR BRIDGE DAMAGED.

ONE FATALITY REPORTED.

(Received This (Dav, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

The- storm/yesterday Avas one of the most A'iolenfc on record. It is described by the State Meteorologist as “a tornadic squall.” A .pylon of the Harbour Bridge was struck by lightning, causing a block of masonry to fall. The block narroAvly missed a policeman beloAv. A boy aged five AA-as killed by a lorry while running to shelter. Many people Avere injured' both in- Sydney and at Duibbo.

Just before the storm broke a huge AA’aterspout Avas seen racing up the coast-.

DESTRUCTION AT DUBBO.

MANY BUILDINGS UNROOFED.

(Received This DaA% 11.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

A report from the western wheat centre at Dubbo states that the tornado also wrought havoc in the township,. causing £IOO,OOO worth of - damage iii 20 minutes. Many modern homes and shops, also offices and factories were unroofed, power lines were brought down, and roads and streets littered with roof tiles and iron. The Dubbo grain sheds wore practically wrecked.