PERTH LASHED BY WILD STORMS

[tropicana]

Perth lashed by wild storms

August 25, 2004

PERTH residents have endured a wild night, lashed by winds of over 100kph in the metropolitan area.

But Western Australian police say there have been no reports of major damage so far.

Perth weather bureau senior forecaster Noel Puzey said wind gusts reached 135kph at Cape Leeuwin, south of the state capital, while 110kph winds were recorded in Perth itself.

Indian Ocean swells reached 7-8 metres overnight. More than 18,000 homes were left without power after a severe weather front swept through Perth and the south-west of the state Tuesday.

Mr Puzey said the latest bout of severe weather was caused by a strong cold front.

He said strong winds and high seas would continue until the middle of the day in Perth, but would contract along the south coast as the front moved through.

"We've had no reports of damage yet but it's still very early, and with swells of 7-8 metres, I wouldn't be surprised to see some beach erosion," Mr Puzey said.

Sergeant Andy O'Neill at the WA police operations centre confirmed there had been no reports of major damage.

The latest bout of wild weather struck after a Western Power worker died Tuesday while trying to restore electricity to houses blacked out in a storm.

Police said about 9am (WST) Tuesday the 25-year-old Western Power employee, from the southern Perth suburb of Victoria Park, was trying to dislodge a broken powerline from a tree when he received a 450 volt shock.

Ambulance officers tried to resuscitate him and he was transferred from the scene in Western Street, Carlisle, to Royal Perth Hospital but was pronounced dead soon after being admitted.

The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection's energy safety department is investigating and Western Power has launched a separate inquiry.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
-justin-