SYDNEY - A huge cleanup began in Sydney yesterday after a severe hailstorm that killed a man and left a trail of destruction across the region.
The New South Wales Government said a natural disaster area might be declared, and the Insurance Council of Australia predicted the final bill from the45-minute tempest could be more than $356 million.
The storm was the worst to hit Sydney since 1990. Most areas felt the effects of the pouring rain, lightning and hailstones the size of cricket balls, but hardest hit were the southern and eastern suburbs.
About 15,000 homes were blacked out along the coast. Windscreens, roofs and windows were smashed, trees were uprooted, flash flooding occurred and planes were grounded.
Lightning sparked at least 25 fires.
Police said a 45-year-old man was killed after being struck by lightning while fishing.
The State Emergency Service said it had received more than 3000 calls for help and urged people to be patient, with the cleanup expected to extend into the weekend.
A spokesman said most reported damage from the hailstones was to roofs and windows.
Flights were still disrupted at Sydney airport yesterday, with Qantas, which had 16 of its aircraft damaged by hail, saying it would take some time before services were restored to normal.
Ansett Australia cancelled a number of flights because of damage to seven planes, while Air New Zealand staff directed media queries about its operations in and out of Sydney to its head office in Auckland.
Meanwhile, weather forecasters defended themselves from a charge that they failed to give adequate warning about the storm, which struck about 8 pm.
But meteorologist Evan Bathe said the storm, triggered by the day's warm temperatures, appeared to be moving out to sea before it suddenly changed course.
"We just thought it would track out to sea, but it came back." - NZPA
