The night 500,000 tonnes of hail smashed a $1.7BILLION hole through Sydney: A look back at Australia’s costliest natural disaster 20 years on
- Sydney was hit by Australia’s most costly natural disaster on the night of 14 April, 1999, 20 years ago today
- Black clouds rolled over Sydney, plunging the city into darkness before enormous hailstones fell from the sky
- Hailstones smashed into houses and cars at 200km/h, causing $1.7billion dollars worth of damage
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It was the night that hailstones the size of cricket balls fell from the sky.
In the evening of 14 April, 1999, black clouds rolled over Sydney, plunging the city into darkness. A huge clap of thunder echoed – and the heavens opened.
The torrential storm that followed, 20 years ago today, was the most costly natural disaster in Australian history.
In the evening of 14 April, 1999, black clouds rolled over Sydney, plunging the city into darkness. A huge clap of thunder echoed – and the heavens opened. Pictured: Footage from the day
Some 20,000 houses and 70,000 cars (pictured) were damaged across 85 suburbs – although the east of the city bore the biggest brunt
The torrential storm that hit Sydney, 20 years ago today, was the most costly natural disaster in Australian history. Pictured: Damage after the storm
Hailstones (pictured next to a cricket ball) smashed into businesses, houses and cars at 200 kilometres per hour, causing $1.7billion dollars worth of damage, or $2.8billion in today’s money
The storm was so terrifying that 2,000 people called Triple Zero in the first five hours. Pictured: A street is pelted with hail
Hailstones smashed into businesses, houses and cars at 200 kilometres per hour, causing $1.7billion dollars worth of damage, or $2.8billion in today’s money.
Some 20,000 houses and 70,000 cars were damaged across 85 suburbs – although the east of the city bore the biggest brunt.
The worst-hit suburbs were Kensington, Kingsford, Botany, Mascot, Randwick and Paddington.
The storm was so terrifying that 2,000 people called Triple Zero in the first five hours.
Tragically one person died from a lightening strike, although it was almost a miracle the death toll wasn’t higher.
This image from above the city shows blue covers on roofs damaged by hail during the 1999 Sydney Hailstorm
Tarpaulins covering the roof of a residential house in the eastern suburbs of Sydney following the 1999 Sydney Hailstorm
This image shows damage to a car roof as a result of the 1999 Sydney Hailstorm, the most expensive disaster in Aussie history
Some 20,000 houses and 70,000 cars were damaged across 85 suburbs – although the east of the city bore the biggest brunt. Pictured: A map showing the rain