Community
4 September, 2025
Wild weather lashes region
STATE Emergency Services (VICSES) units were kept busy over the weekend after one of the most severe storms in years lashed the region.
Severe weather warnings were issued last Friday night (August 29) as an intense cold front pushed across the state.
Windspeeds in excess of 100km/h hit the south west, peaking between 9pm on the Friday and 3am on the Saturday, including gusts of up to 89km/h in Terang.
A VICSES spokesperson said crews across the state had been kept busy, with the south west among the hardest areas hit.
“Between midday Friday, August 29 and 9am Monday, September 1, VICSES volunteers across the state were called to more than 1900 requests for assistance (RFAs), largely related to trees down (almost 1500) and building damage (more than 320),” the spokesperson said.
“In VICSES’ South West region, volunteers were called to more than 400 RFAs during this period, including 314 for trees down and 85 for building damage.
“VICSES Terang Unit volunteers were called to 24 RFAs during this period, while VICSES Mortlake Unit volunteers were called to two RFAs.
“In the south west, 13 VICSES units were active during this period, while across the state, VICSES had 130 units actively responding.
“There are currently no outstanding RFAs.”