At least nine people killed in severe storms in eastern Australia

At least nine people have been killed after severe storms struck Australia’s eastern states over the Christmas holidays, bringing down trees and power lines and leaving tens of thousands of households without power.

Police and rescue services in the states of Victoria and Queensland confirmed the deaths of eight people.

Severe thunderstorms hit the country’s eastern coast on December 25 and December 26, bringing large hailstones, high winds and torrential rain.

Rivers flooded and the winds ripped off roofs and brought down trees in some of the worst-affected areas.