Phone, power outage on NSW South Coast could last days
Utility providers are warning extensive parts of the fire-ravaged NSW south coast will be without telecommunications and power for days.
The crew from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra. The crew was forced to shelter in their truck as the fire front passed through. #NSWFires#ProtectTheIrreplaceablepic.twitter.com/Hb0yVrefi9
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) December 31, 2019
Fire-ravaged communities along a 180-kilometre stretch of NSW's South Coast will be without power and some telecommunications for up to two days.
NSW Police on Tuesday confirmed all power had been lost from South Nowra to Moruya and "potentially beyond", affecting at least 46,000 people.
The outage also affects communication lines, meaning landlines and internet is also affected.
Some mobile towers have also been impacted.
About lunchtime Wednesday there were reports of power returning to some parts of the coast, including Ulladulla, although it remained off in many others.
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Firefighters in the area have been reporting several instances of damaged power lines arcing, increasing the dangerous conditions.
"Energy companies are working with RFS to gain access to safely restore services," police said in a statement.
"[But] until it is safe for workers to enter affected areas, this will be delayed as they are currently impacted by bush fires."
Endeavour Energy said 17,000 of its customers would be without power for up to 48 hours after major extra high voltage transmission lines were damaged.
It said crews were unable to patrol the feeder lines because of the dangerous conditions.
The transmission lines also provide Essential Energy customers between Batemans Bay and the border, where 29,000 people were without power on Tuesday night.
The fire reaches Batemans Bay.
Australian Associated Press