Jan 18 (V7N) - Authorities in eastern Australia have declared a natural disaster as severe storms battered New South Wales (NSW) with heavy rain, lightning, and winds reaching 100 kilometers per hour. The extreme weather has caused widespread damage, with trees and power lines toppled across Sydney and surrounding areas since Wednesday. Over 30,000 properties remain without electricity as of Saturday, down from a peak of 260,000, according to Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib.

Ausgrid, the region's electricity provider, reported that 140,000 customers lost power on Wednesday, followed by another 68,000 outages on Friday. Emergency services have responded to more than 7,000 incidents statewide, while disaster declarations in three local government areas have unlocked support for emergency housing, essential repairs, and clean-up efforts. "This is an incident that is affecting the whole state," Dib said.

The storms have also turned deadly. An elderly man was killed on Wednesday in Cowra, 230 kilometers west of Sydney, when a tree fell on his car. The severe weather has left many residents struggling to recover from the damage and disruptions caused by the storms.

Crews are working around the clock to restore power and assist affected residents, but challenges remain as some areas continue to experience strong winds and hazardous conditions. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and follow safety guidelines while recovery efforts are underway.

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