Weather update…
Well the storm hit earlier and in doing so, managed to cause severe flash flooding as well as general chaos across the Eastern Coast.
Here, within 5 minutes, the carpark was flooded - I’d say, judging by the amount of water lapping at the wheels of the cars outside, there would have been ~200mm of brackish, swirling water lying about. The drains completely unable to cope with such a sudden increase in run-off.
The lashing winds - averaging 75kmh and gusts in excess of 100kmh have knocked down trees and left a trail of carnage in the roadways as leaves and bits of rubbish are torn from all over the place.
The roadways too have been flooded in places, the major roundabouts under pools of water, cars stranded in the midst trying to drive through and causing traffic blocks everywhere.
In Newcastle, the situation is much worse.
The tanker, ‘Pasha Bulker’, carrying 700 tonnes of heavy fuel and 34 tonnes of diesel on board has run aground on Nobby’s Beach.
The 22 crew had to be rescued via helicopter.
Fears are mounting that the grounded bulk carrier Pasha Bulker could break up as traces of fuel begin washing up on a Newcastle beach. Two creases on each side of the ship can be seen as engineers begin efforts to assess the damage.
The Newcastle Port Corporation said there is a possibility of the ship breaking up, ABC radio reported.
Meanwhile, at least two more ships are expected to run aground in Newcastle as raging winds and monster waves batter the coast.
Two more ships, the Sea Confidence and the Bitis, are less than one nautical mile off Stockton Beach and are struggling to stay away from the beach, a spokeswoman for the Federal Maritime Minister, De-Anne Kelly, said.
“They’ve both dropped anchor but they are dragging. It’s predicted these two will run aground,” she told smh.com.au.
Another ship, the Coral Emerald, was 2.8 nautical miles offshore and was reporting difficulties. Ms Kelly said its anchor is dragging due to the swell.
Conditions are expected to worsen and more storms are predicted tonight…
