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The energy company has restored power to almost 150,000 customers since Sunday while contending with downed powerlines, and fallen trees damaging switches and power poles.
“Today, we will have 450 crew in the field completing restoration work as quickly and safely as possible, with helicopters assisting ground crews with inspections,” an AusNet spokesman said.
“We anticipate some customers will remain without power, potentially for the next couple of days.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and assure the community we are doing everything we can to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Bureau of Meteorology was warning more severe weather warnings were likely to be issued again on Friday, with strong winds expected.
Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said a cold front was due to come through the state from Thursday into Friday, bringing showers in its wake.
Storm damage in Newborough, near Moe.
“We may see the return of some severe weather warnings for damaging winds. The exact areas are yet to be determined, it will depend on exactly how this system develops as it crosses the country, but most likely elevated parts of [the state] and parts of the south of Victoria would be most at risk,” Bradbury said.
“This frontal system doesn’t look anywhere near as strong as what we’ve seen over the weekend … so while damaging winds will be a risk in some parts most likely, it’s unlikely to be as widespread and intense as what we’ve seen over the past couple of days.”
Breezy conditions were expected over the weekend in the state’s south, Bradbury said. She noted meteorologists would keep a close eye on the system in case anything changed.
SES state duty officer Shane McBride said the emergency service had received more than 8000 calls for assistance since Tuesday, and recruited 29 volunteers from NSW’s SES to help manage the workload.
The service has put 145 of its 150 Victorian units into action over the past few days.
“[Volunteers have] been going now for over a week and they are getting tired, but they are working as hard as they can, as quick as they can, and as safe as they can,” McBride said.
Winds of up to 40km/h were forecast for Melbourne on Friday, while rainfall of up to 6mm was also predicted.
Winds of up to 40km/h were also expected at Geelong from Wednesday to Friday.
A 63-year-old Inverleigh woman was killed by a falling tree that crushed a holiday park cabin in Moama, on the Victoria-NSW border, on Monday morning.
Her husband, also 63, was injured in the incident and later discharged from Echuca Regional Health.
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