Severe storms cause destruction in Australia

Downed powerlines and toppled trees in Lara, Victoria. Pic/AP

Powerful winds have killed a man and brought widespread destruction across Australia's second-most populous state, leaving 5,30,000 homes and businesses without power and fanning fires that razed homes and injured five firefighters, officials said.

Winds of up to 157 kmph toppled six electricity transmission towers on Tuesday and caused one of the highest number of power outages Victoria state had ever experienced, Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said.

"The storms were the most destructive in years and unfortunately from time to time this can occur," Nugent said.

Storms also brought lightning strikes that sparked several forest fires in the west of the state, damaging homes in the township of Pomonal. Nugent confirmed houses had been lost but declined to provide an estimate of how many.

Five firefighters sustained minor burns.

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