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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| South Australia storms leave state without power | South Australia storms leave state without power |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Fierce storms and lightning strikes have left the entire state of South Australia without power overnight. | |
| Trains and trams were halted and traffic lights knocked out of action as one of the most ferocious storms in decades swept across the state. | Trains and trams were halted and traffic lights knocked out of action as one of the most ferocious storms in decades swept across the state. |
| Officials said damage to key facilities near the city of Port Augusta had forced the grid to shut down, and 1.6m people were left without power. | Officials said damage to key facilities near the city of Port Augusta had forced the grid to shut down, and 1.6m people were left without power. |
| South Australia's premier said 80,000 lightning strikes were recorded. | South Australia's premier said 80,000 lightning strikes were recorded. |
| This was an "unprecedented weather event", Jay Weatherill added. | This was an "unprecedented weather event", Jay Weatherill added. |
| Electricity has begun to be restored to the state capital, Adelaide, with full services expected to be back on by later on Thursday. | |
| Adelaide saw traffic gridlock as officials struggled to restore power. South Australia's police commissioner declared a "major incident" in the state and people were asked to stay at home if possible. | Adelaide saw traffic gridlock as officials struggled to restore power. South Australia's police commissioner declared a "major incident" in the state and people were asked to stay at home if possible. |
| All flights out of Adelaide airport were temporarily grounded. Liam Shorte, who was hoping to fly to Sydney, tweeted a picture of passengers waiting amid a blackout. | All flights out of Adelaide airport were temporarily grounded. Liam Shorte, who was hoping to fly to Sydney, tweeted a picture of passengers waiting amid a blackout. |
| He later said his flight had been scheduled to depart but added: "All boarding tickets had to be printed or handwritten as apps and readers all failed." | He later said his flight had been scheduled to depart but added: "All boarding tickets had to be printed or handwritten as apps and readers all failed." |
| Some people tried to make light of the situation. | Some people tried to make light of the situation. |
| SA Power Networks, which operates the electricity system in the state, said that it believed the problem started when its infrastructure in the Port Augusta area was damaged in the storm. | SA Power Networks, which operates the electricity system in the state, said that it believed the problem started when its infrastructure in the Port Augusta area was damaged in the storm. |
| But the loss of power was not the only effect of the storm as it crossed the city. Adelaide investment adviser Jed Richards tweeted that he had seen lightning starting a fire in North Adelaide. | But the loss of power was not the only effect of the storm as it crossed the city. Adelaide investment adviser Jed Richards tweeted that he had seen lightning starting a fire in North Adelaide. |
| There were reports that mobile phone coverage had also been disrupted. | There were reports that mobile phone coverage had also been disrupted. |
| Some had a difficult journey home including director Emma Berry who tweeted a picture of flooded streets in her neighbourhood. | Some had a difficult journey home including director Emma Berry who tweeted a picture of flooded streets in her neighbourhood. |