Severe cold front leaves thousands without power in Tasmania, Australia

Tens of thousands of residents in Tasmania, Australia, were left without power on Sunday, September 1, after a severe cold front brought damaging winds and heavy rains to the state, leading to flood warnings, Reuters reported.

According to an official power company, around 30,000 customers were affected. Despite the cold front moving away, the weather forecaster warned of ongoing risks from showers and thunderstorms, with another strong cold front expected to hit Sunday night into Monday.

Emergency services received 330 requests for assistance, with authorities warning that flooding could isolate communities for several days.

Tasmania—an island state with around 570,000 people—is a one-hour flight or 10-hour ferry crossing from the mainland city of Melbourne, 445km away. About 40 per cent of the island is wilderness or protected areas.