Melbourne flooded after freak storm

Rescuers steered boats through the streets of Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, today after a freak storm caused widespread flooding and left drivers stranded on the roofs of their cars.

The storms began around midnight dumping five inches of rain in less than three hours, said weather bureau forecaster Ken Dickensen who described the storm as “freakish.”

“I’ve only seen something like this a couple of times in 30 years,” he said.

A fire service spokeswoman said 12 people whose cars had stalled on a motorway amid swirling flood waters were rescued by boat.

The Victoria State Emergency Service agency said it had received 1,000 calls for help mostly for flooded homes, collapsed roofs and fallen trees.

The rains coincide with heavy water restrictions for residents of the Melbourne after levels in its major reservoirs had plunged following a two-year drought.

Hefty hail stones also pelted some parts of the city.

“The biggest one was about the size of golf balls,” said Steve Wilcox, who watched helpless as the balls of ice pummelled his vehicle and 40 others in a car park.

Lightning also hit Melbourne and a golfer, who was struck on the head as he took shelter under a tree was in serious condition in hospital.

Further north, five tourists in the Blue Mountains near Sydney suffered varying degrees of burns after being hit by lightning