One dead, two critically injured in Sydney storm

One person has died and two are critically injured after a tree collapsed during a freak storm on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Emergency crews tend victims of fallen trees in Narrabeen. Picture: John Grainger

One person has died and two remain in a critical condition after a tree collapsed during a freak storm on Sydney’s northern beaches on Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after 3.30pm, emergency services were alerted to reports of major storm damage across the northern beaches after trees and powerlines came down in suburbs stretching from Mona Vale to Forestville.

The area is still considered hazardous and members of the public should avoid the area, a spokesman from NSW Police said, adding that authorities were continuing to field hundreds of calls across Sydney’s northern beaches area.

As well as paramedics and fire crews, more than 100 police from the Northern Beaches Command have responded to the incident, focusing on a public carpark on Ocean Street, Narrabeen, after reports a tree and powerlines had fallen.

Witnesses described the storm as “a mini tornado”, with one Narrabeen resident telling The Australian that it “seemed to appear from nowhere … tearing down the streets”.

“It just came through the street like a hurricane and we rushed for cover,” he said. “There was no warning or signs at all this was coming.”

Authorities said one person had been declared dead at the scene, while two remained in a critical condition in the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Damage in Dee Why. Picture: Scott Timmony

Emergency services received more than 300 requests for assistance by 3pm Sunday, authorities said, with further requests expected into the evening as the damage was assessed.

The Bureau of Meteorology said further severe storms were forecast throughout Sunday night and advised residents to avoid powerlines and trees. Footage of the tornado’s ­aftermath in Dee Why showed residents assessing the damage to apartment blocks and homes, where roofs and cars had been pummelled by rain and wind.

“Winds in the area were up to 100km/h and in some cases more,” said a spokeswoman from the BOM, adding further storms were likely over the next 24 hours.

“There are more storm cells forming over the Hunter, but we’re not detecting any major storms in the Sydney area at the moment,” she said.

“We are entering a more humid period now and we can expect more unpredictable changes as the season progresses.”

NSW Police confirmed they would provide a further update on Monday after they had assessed the damage, saying they would not comment on the death or those that were critically injured until they had a chance to take stock of the damage.

However, NSW Ambulance inspector Christie Marks told reporters on Sunday there had been a “tragic” accident involving a group of women during the extreme weather event in Narrabeen. “As you can imagine the patients had multiple injuries after being hit by falling branches and other debris,” she said.