Strong winds have torn awnings from shopfronts, downed power lines and uprooted trees across Sydney, including in the CBD, where two people were injured after a large fig fell on them in Hyde Park.
Wind speeds as high as 120km/h were recorded in Sydney on Friday, with the SES responding to about 2100 requests for assistance.
SES spokesman Andrew Edmunds said a large number of calls concerned fallen trees, which caused more than 1000 requests for help on Friday. In West Pymble, fallen trees damaged gas mains.
Awnings were also ripped from shopfronts and onto traffic on Victoria Road in Drummoyne, closing citybound lanes, which have since reopened. One man believed to be in his 60s was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Two women were transported with minor injuries to St Vincent’s Hospital after the tree on Elizabeth Street fell on them about 3.15pm on Friday, a spokesman for NSW Ambulance said.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was hosting a Big Bash League game between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, part of the Bill O’Reilly grandstand roof fell. Spectators were evacuated and provided seating in another grandstand.
“Further inspections are underway. The safety of our patrons remains our number one priority,” said a spokesperson for Venues NSW.
The damaging winds followed a severe thunderstorm on Wednesday that brought widespread destruction to Sydney and left 200,000 people across NSW without power.
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