Train hit by fallen tree at Sutherland
A tree has fallen onto a train in Sydney’s south as wild weather sends trees, power lines and roofs flying across the suburbs. One enterprising civilian has stepped up to direct traffic at a major intersection – armed with a pool noodle.
St George Shire Standard
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A train has been hit by a tree in Sydney’s south after a wild super-storm ripped through the suburbs, leaving utter carnage in its wake.
Train services on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line are completely shuttered after a tree fell onto a train at Sutherland and caused significant damage.
Services were already significantly disrupted after wild winds ripped the roof off a building and threw it onto train tracks at Caringbah station.
Buses are now replacing trains as commuters were finally forced to alight from backed-up trains as far north on the line as Mortdale.
Trains remain suspended between Mortdale, Waterfall and Cronulla, due to a train damaged as a result of severe weather conditions at Sutherland, and an object on the tracks at Caringbah.
— T4 Sydney Trains (@T4SydneyTrains) January 20, 2020
Avoid non-essential travel or consider other travel arrangements if possible. pic.twitter.com/OtudX9Vvhb
Shocking footage shows the moment wild winds ripped an outdoor chair off a balcony at an apartment in South Village, Kirrawee.
The social media video shows a trolley blowing through the road behind Aldi before the chair comes spiralling out of the air and crashes onto the road before continuing to blow away out of sight as the rain lashes the street.
Meanwhile, one enterprising motorist has been forced to direct traffic with a pool noodle after blackouts wiped out traffic lights across the Sutherland Shire.
The cheerful civilian in a yellow high-vis jacket has come to the rescue of local motorists at the intersection of the Kingsway and Sylvania Rd in Gymea, ably directing traffic in four directions as police attend to other blacked-out major intersections nearby.
Fallen powerlines have closed the eastbound lanes of President Ave heading away from Kiora Rd at Miranda, with motorists now being redirected via the Kingsway.
In the westbound lanes of President Ave heading towards Sutherland drivers are being forced to weave through fallen trees while emergency services race to address the power lines.
Kiora Rd near Miranda Fair is now completely blocked in both directions due to a massive fallen tree.
A colossal tree has collapsed on the roof of Sylvania Heights Public School, and another has fallen on a doctor’s surgery in White St, Jannali.
Little Blessings Kindergarten on Pacific Ave in Caringbah has also had the roof ripped clean off, while a tree has tumbled onto cars on Willarong Rd nearby.
The south side of Woolooware Rd is cut off after a tree fell on power lines, with residents told they could be waiting for more than an hour for the danger to be mitigated.
Power lines are also down on Bath Rd South, Corella Rd and Forest Rd all in Kirrawee due to fallen trees.
Booyong St, Wallumatta St and Willarong Rd in Caringbah, Kareena Rd and the Boulevarde in Miranda and Washington Dr in Bonnet Bay are also out of action after huge trees fell across the roads.
Ausgrid has also reported widespread power outages in Audley, Grays Point, Loftus, Kareela, Gymea and Gymea Bay after the storm lashed the southern suburbs.
Kareela Village is currently out of action due to power issues while Coles at Sutherland is advising customers they are shut indefinitely, though they hope to reopen around 8pm.
More to come.