VIOLENT STORM IN BRISBANE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1946, Page 5

VIOLENT STORM IN BRISBANE

Received Wednesdav, 7 p.m. BRISBANE, Dec. 4. The iqq.?tMy,i,9jpnt,^i|Oi;i,i} in history damaged hundreds of business premises and lionies late yesterday uftenioon. A man who pic-ked up an electric light wire which had been blown down received a shock from which he later died. Five other persons wero injured and taken to hospital. The wind reached a velocity of 79 iniles per hour, the highest ever ro-, corded in Brisbane. Traui, train, road and air transport wero disorganiscd and the communication services were interrupted. Along the river, boats were damaged and at nearby seaside towns the wind and rain played havoc with tonts and caravans. The storm flooded niany city buildings and caused thousands of ])ounds' worth of damage to stocks in shops. llail as large as golf balls broke scores of windows. At New Earm, an inner suburb, two houses were unroofed. Awnings were blown down, electric power iines broken, and trams and niotor vehicles were blocked by the hcavy eoating. q.f hailstones 011 the grouiid." ."*•*•. :: . Considerable daniage, was done toithc Uity llall, the hail breaking oue face^ of the tower elock in seven pieces. It also smashed plateglass windows. A considerable area of road surfafeing in front of the C'ity Hall was waslied away. Two hundred and frfty points of rain fell in 35 minutes. The State Parliament adjourned because the Jlansard report ers could not hear the debate for the hail.