Fifth person dead, six remain critical after Melbourne asthma storm
A fifth person has died and six people continue to fight for life following Melbourne’s fatal thunderstorm event on Monday.
The patient, reportedly a woman in her 40s, died at the Northern Hospital in Epping last night, according to the Herald Sun.
"We are now aware five deaths may have occurred as a result of conditions relating to the events,” Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Travers Purton said in a statement.
Six people remain in a critical condition in intensive care, while another 20 people are being treated for a variety of respiratory and related conditions, Mr Purton said.
READ MORE: Woman who died in Melbourne storm remembered by family
The Inspector General for Emergency Management will investigate the cause of the deaths and his findings will form part of an overarching review that will examine how Ambulance Victoria and emergency services responded and how the community was notified of the unfolding crisis.
More than 8,500 patients were treated across Monday and Tuesday.
At one point on Monday evening, there were 140 simultaneous "code one" cases.
The storm event saw a high pollen count and thunderstorm conditions combine to produce tiny particles in the air that penetrated deep into people's airways, causing attacks for asthma sufferers.
With AAP
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