Thousands call for help as wild weather topples trees across Australian state

Downed power lines and fallen trees in Melbourne, Australia (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Wild weather in south-east Australia has toppled trees, trapping people in cars and houses and cutting power to more than 200,000 properties as many braced for flooding.

The extraordinary weather system that hit the state of Victoria and its capital Melbourne brought wind gusts of up to 74mph and up to eight inches of rain, meteorologist Kevin Parkin said.