Three people were injured when wild winds caused glass windows at a Wollongong leagues club to come crashing down on bingo players Friday night.
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Paramedics were called to Illawarra Leagues Club about 9.30pm to reports patrons had been hit by the falling windows in the level-two bingo room on the western side of the building.
Three people were treated for head and shoulder injuries. One of the patients, a woman in her 40s, was transported to Wollongong Hospital with a minor head injury.
NSW SES crews attended and performed emergency temporary repairs to the damaged building.
SES public affairs officer Ilana Pender-Rose said crews had responded to 174 requests for assistance in the Illawarra region since midnight Thursday.
"Most of the jobs have been for damaging winds bringing trees down, branches downs with roof and property damage as well," she said.
"The southern parts of NSW including the Illawarra and South Coast can continue to see some damaging winds over night."
Meantime, the Bureau of Meterology is predicting another day of damaging wind gusts, exceeding 90km/h at times, in the Illawarra.
Conditions are expected to ease slightly Saturday night, but will remain strong and gusty in many areas through Sunday.
"The Bureau is is forecasting the cold front which is causing these damaging winds to ease this evening and tomorrow especially but we would like Illawarra residents to please park your car under cover and away from trees, and secure or put away any loose items around your backyard or balcony," Ms Pender-Rose said..
Wind gusts recorded during Friday included 107km/h at Kiama, 106 km/h at Bellambi and 91 km/h at Albion Park.
More to come
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.