Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, was smashed by a tornado-like storm on Wednesday, with hail as big as golf balls and winds gusting at 200km/h causing havoc.
Two people required treatment - one for shock and one for a head wound - in the hardest-hit suburb of Kurnell, an ambulance official said.
One resident of the suburb, where wind gusts of 213km/h were recorded, said the storm sounded “like a freight train going through”.
“Total destruction,” he told Sky News of the aftermath of the tempest, which downed trees and power lines and damaged buildings, including a desalination plant, and flooded roads.
Another man who called in to Sydney talk radio described a scene of extreme damage in Kurnell, images of which showed a truck overturned and building parts flung around.
“My neighbour's roof is gone, the trees are all down in the front yard,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.