![Smoke rises into the air after the Yokine power substation was struck by lightning.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140103225120im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2011/01/29/2157715/fire420_1-420x0.jpg)
Smoke rises into the air after the Yokine power substation was struck by lightning. Photo: Lee- Maree Gallo
A teenage girl has died in Geraldton after stepping on a power line that fell on the road and an elderly woman lost her life after crashing her car in lashing rain near York yesterday.
Police spokeswoman Ros Weatherall said a group of about six teenagers were walking down Augusta Street on their way home from the Geraldton entertainment area about 2.30am.
It got bigger and bigger and I started hearing a roar. Then we copped the eye of it and got whacked.
One of the group, a 17-year-old girl, stepped on a live power line which was connected to a streetlight and was electrocuted. Her friend, also a 17-year-old girl rushed to help her and also received electric shocks.
![The latest satellite image shows the cyclone tapidly weakening and it is expected to be below cyclone intensity today before it reaches the coast.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140103225120im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2011/01/30/2158292/Article_Cyclone_satellite-420x0.jpg)
The latest satellite image shows the cyclone rapidly weakening and it is expected to be below cyclone intensity today before it reaches the coast. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology
Their friend, a boy, who stepped in to drag the two girls away, also got shocked and suffered burns.
All three were taken to Geraldton hospital where one of the girls has since died following the electrocution.
The other girl will be flown to Royal Perth Hospital this morning by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A hospital spokesman said she is in a stable condition. The boy remains in Geraldton hospital for treatment of his burns.
![The latest modelling of the path of Cyclone Bianca, as at 6.17am on Sunday, which shows it likely to cross the coast between Perth and Bunbury.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140103225120im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2011/01/30/2158290/Article-Cyclone-420x0.jpg)
The latest modelling of the path of Cyclone Bianca, as at 6.17am on Sunday, which shows it likely to cross the coast between Perth and Bunbury. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology
Ken Bowren, director of Energy Safety, warned people to be vigilant about the dangers of fallen power lines.
"This is a tragic death and I wish to warn of the dangers of stepping on or touching wires that have fallen to the ground."
Two Energy Safety electrical inspectors are travelling to Geraldton to investigate the tragedy and Energy Safety was assisting police on behalf of the Coroner. Western Power is also investigating this incident.
Mr Bowren said as Cyclone Bianca approached the coast this afternoon it was possible that strong winds would cause further power lines to fall to the ground.
"Do not touch any wires. Keep yourself and others well away from the wires and call Western Power to report such incidents on 13 13 51", he advised.
"If you are out tonight, walk in well lit areas or use a torch."
Elderly woman dies in crash
An 88-year-old woman has died after crashing her car into a tree while driving through the storm near York.
Ms Weatherall said police could not determine yet whether her accident was a direct result of the storm, however the accident occurred the same time torrential rain swept through the area.
The woman was driving her car along Waterfall Road about 3.30pm when she veered off the road and hit a tree.
The car caught on fire and the woman died at the scene.
Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.
WA lashed by mini-tormados
Yesterday State Emergency Services volunteers responded to hundreds of calls from WA's Wheatbelt region as damaging winds swept through ahead of tropical Cyclone Bianca, which is due to cross the coast today.
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority reported that severe thunderstorms and mini-tornados hit parts of metropolitan Perth and regional towns of Toodyay, Northam, York and Wongan Hills between 2.30 and 3.30pm yesterday.
A FESA spokeswoman said heavy rain and strong wind had ripped the roofs off homes, and trees and powerlines had been brought down.
SES volunteers have responded to 20 calls for assistance in Stirling, Swan and Gosnells for rain damage, localised flooding and roof collapses.
In regional areas, over 50 structures have been badly damaged along with fencing, powerlines and other infrastructure in Northam and York.
York resident Tanya Richardson told radio 6PR many properties around her house had damage after the storm swept through.
"We came inside the house and then with that trees just started uprooting and flying across the roof and sheds collapsing," she said.
"I've never seen anything like it. It was really scary."
Mini-tornados were reported in several places including Toodyay and Wongan Hills.
Beverly resident Bob Seddon saw the freak winds coming across the horizon mid-afternoon.
"We saw a red mark over the horizon," he said.
"It looked like dust and I said to my wife 'this doesn't look good', and it got bigger and bigger and I started hearing a roar. Then we copped the eye of it and got whacked."
There have also been reports of roof and structure damage in Goomalling, Bolgart, Spencer's Brook and Clackline and south to Pingelly and Brookton.
There have been 18 calls for SES assistance for damaged roofs between Northampton and Jurien Bay.
Overnight there were reports of a mini tornado in Newman, which caused minor roof damage to about 10 homes and powerlines in the area.
"Storm worse than cyclone"
The severe storms in the Wheatbelt region were more frightening than a cyclone, says a shire president.
In York, east of Perth, about 50 homes were badly damaged, many with their roofs ripped off, and powerlines brought down, says shire president Pat Hooper.
''The storm literally arrived like an unexpected and uninvited guest,'' he said.
''I walked outside and within 10 minutes the storm was in town.''
Mr Hooper said the storm's fury was ''frightening'' and far worse than any cyclone he had experienced in the past.
''There wasn't a lot of rain but it was horizontal at one point because the winds were that strong,'' he said.
Mr Hooper said the damage to a third one of the 50 homes was severe and about 80 per cent had sections of roof blown away, resulting in some minor flooding.
He said an emergency centre had been established in the town's recreation hall.
Blackouts as powerlines, substations hit
Western Power said 12,000 properties in the Wheatbelt region were still without power after the storm.
Due to the number of lines and poles that were brought down by lightning and strong winds, some homes in the Northam area may remain without power for several days, a spokeswoman said.
In the metropolitan area, power was cut to 22,000 homes yesterday afternoon after lightning struck the Yokine substation about 3.15pm, causing extensive fire damage. Western Power has since restored supplies to most of the affected areas.
Lightning, strong winds and rain have also brought down powerlines and cut power to 4000 properties in the Narrogin and Katanning areas, and damage to substations and major powerlines has also cut power to parts of Northam, Toodyay, Wondowie, Cunderdin and Kellerberrin.
Police are reporting minor flooding across the metropolitan area as patches of heavy rain hit the city. Motorists are being urged to drive carefully and be wary of water over roads.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning at 1.20pm that a line of severe thunderstorms was moving rapidly southwards and would affects the southern parts of the central west district within two hours. There was also the risk of damaging gusts of up to 100km/h.
Storms batter Geraldton
Storms moving over Geraldton yesterday morning generated winds of 104km/h, cutting power to more than 10,000 homes.
The front has crossed the coast at Geraldton, and the State Emergency Services has responded more than a dozen calls for assistance between Geraldton and Northampton.
Heavy rain with the possibility of flash flooding in low-lying areas continued in the Geraldton throughout the day.
Major damage was reported to roofs, patios and sheds as well as a number of large trees fallen on properties.
- with AAP, Liam Phillips, Lucy Rickard and Lee-Maree Gallo
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