A dairy farmer has died, homes have been destroyed, and approximately 135,000 residents are without power following severe bushfires and storms in Victoria.
The Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, confirmed that a 50-year-old man was killed when storms struck South Gippsland on Tuesday night.
The man found dead at a Darlimurla property, was reportedly hit by debris while working. WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident, which marks the second confirmed workplace fatality of 2024.
As bushfires continue to ravage western Victoria, authorities are still assessing the extent of property damage. Power outages have left 134,952 homes and businesses without electricity, with 108,415 in eastern Victoria alone.
Power and communication outages disrupt services; recovery efforts continue amid severe damage.Approximately 3,104 customers depend on power for medical reasons. Communications have also been disrupted, affecting phone towers and internet services, with around 148,000 NBN customers offline.
Major disruptions have impacted around 80 schools and early childhood services, while train services are also affected.
Buses are replacing trains on the Belgrave line and the V/Line service between Traralgon and Bairnsdale. Additionally, Wonthaggi Hospital and Phillip Island Health Hub have canceled surgeries and various medical services due to power issues.
The catastrophic bushfire risk, which had been declared on Tuesday, was downgraded to extreme on Wednesday morning. Fire crews are working to control the blazes, with significant damage reported near the Grampians National Park and Newtown near Ballarat. The State Emergency Service has deployed 124 of its 150 units to assist in recovery efforts.
Firefighters suffered minor injuries in Pomonal after their truck was involved in a burnover. Damage to properties, including a native nursery in Pomonal, has been reported. Despite the losses, residents are focused on recovery and supporting one another during this crisis.