More than 60 passengers were trapped on a tram when strong winds in Sydney caused a tree to fall onto overhead power lines.
Strong winds across the state caused chaos shortly before midday on Saturday in Pyrmont, near the centre of Australia’s largest city.
Power had to be cut before 67 light rail passengers could be safely rescued from the crash site in Darling Harbour, where a fallen tree branch had smashed a glass window.
Strong winds are hitting New South Wales from near the Victorian border to the central north coast, with gale-force winds of up to 100km/h expected in Sydney this afternoon.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, stretching from Cooma to Kempsey, warning of strong winds continuing into Sunday morning.
Bad weather is expected to cause chaos on the roads as families return home following the end of the state’s school holidays.
The Sydney tram drama could be the start of more work for the state’s fire and rescue teams, with a spokesman confirming 67 passengers were rescued after the power was cut.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued an update on Saturday afternoon, warning that average wind speeds would be 70km/h and could reach 100km/h.
More than 60 passengers were trapped on a tram when strong winds in Sydney caused a tree to fall onto overhead power lines
The power had to be cut off to rescue 67 passengers from the light rail.
“Damaging winds are expected to diminish during the afternoon and morning hours of Sunday,” it said.
A Met Office spokesman said increasingly stronger north-westerly winds were affecting coastal and inland areas.
“A strengthening northwesterly flow ahead of an approaching cold front is bringing vigorous winds to inland and coastal areas,” he said.
The power had to be cut off to rescue 67 passengers from the light rail.
Strong winds are battering New South Wales from the Victorian border to the mid-north coast, with gale-force winds of up to 100km/h forecast in Sydney this afternoon.
‘Winds are forecast to shift to the southwest beginning in the afternoon and diminishing from the west overnight into Sunday morning.’
State Emergency Services crews are out with chainsaws to clear fallen trees just a day after a CrowdStrike software update halted supermarket checkouts.