Torrential storms lash Australia, one dead

October 26, 2009 02:32:40 PM

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Torrential rain and high winds lashed Australia's most populated state on Monday, leaving one person dead and hundreds of homes without power, officials said.

Sydney commuters were warned to drive carefully as storms dumped more than 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain on parts of New South Wales. One man was killed when his car struck a tree in heavy rainfall overnight.

State emergency officials received about 80 calls, mainly in the Sydney area, to help with flash-floods and damaged roofs. Some 900 Sydney homes lost power when a falling tree cut electricity cables.

Parts of the city were hit by flooding as the storms hit on Sunday. Officials withdrew a thunderstorm warning on Monday but urged residents to watch out for strong coastal winds and more flash-floods.