An Australian boy was taken to hospital after he suffered an electric shock when lightning struck near his home during severe storms around 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 .
The boy from south-east Queensland was showering at the time, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service.
QAS responding to reports of a male person that has suffered a possible electrocution as a result of having a shower during the current electrical storm lightning strike near residence #FernyGrove
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) February 11, 2018
He remains in a stable condition but suffers from leg pains as a result of the incident, reports 9News.
Meanwhile, the state has been battered by powerful storms which still has more than 46,000 residents without electricity as of noon, Feb. 12 following widespread blackouts.
According to the Queensland government’s electric power distribution company Energex, more than 265,000 lightning strikes and high winds affected a total of 130,000 homes across south-east Queensland.
How is this even real?! A spectacular storm absolutely lit up the night skies above #Queensland yesterday. pic.twitter.com/jxxZbMC4xU
— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) February 12, 2018
“Storms have caused mass damage including ripping down 500+ powerlines,” Energex said in a statement on Feb. 11
Energex chief operating officer Paul Jordan said crews are working around the clock to restore power as soon as possible, reported the news station.
“There was enormous damage, we had over 400 wires on the ground and at the moment that’s down to around 280,” he told the TODAY Show.
“If people do find wires down, always treat them as live,” he added.
Jordan urges residents to be careful when cleaning debris and call 13 19 62 immediately if they spot damaged or fallen power lines.
Further Severe Storms Forecasted
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecasted further severe storms for south-east Queensland “with damaging to destructive winds and large hail likely.”
Severe storms are forecast for #SEQ and #Brisbane again today with Damaging to Destructive winds and large #hail likely. Check our weather radar network and warnings for updates throughout the day: https://t.co/yOEe93841G #qldstorm #bnestorm pic.twitter.com/SbVkMdrIla
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 12, 2018
The BOM recorded wind speeds of up to 111 km/h (68 mph) during yesterday’s storm which brought down large trees. The storm also dumped hailstones the size of tennis balls, reported 9News.
Severe storms produced damaging wind gusts over parts of #SEQld this evening with reports of large trees down and widespread power outages. Most significant wind gusts to 7pm summarised in table. https://t.co/IDmax263u0 pic.twitter.com/iG6MaOz7Sc
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 11, 2018
While severe storms are pummeling south-east Queensland, the rest of the state is experiencing prolonged severe-to-extreme heatwaves with temperatures well about the February average.
“This is the most significant and widespread heatwave to affect Queensland this summer, with temperatures recorded so far up to 11 degrees above the February average,” the BOM said in a statement on Feb. 12.
Prolonged Severe to Extreme #heatwave conditions are forecast to continue for large parts of #Queensland. Temperatures recorded yesterday were up to 11 degrees above the February average. Read more: https://t.co/cKWhKzvg7k @qldhealthnews @ABCemergency #heatwave #qldheatwave pic.twitter.com/Ead0WbkryF
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 12, 2018
Queensland Health has encouraged people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe against heat-related illnesses.
“Heat-related illness can be incredibly serious and even life-threatening, which is why it’s important to take the necessary precautions and know the warning signs,” a Queensland Health spokesperson said in the statement.
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