Melbourne commuters facing major delays after violent lightning storm
Lightning fills the sky above Essendon, Victoria overnight. (Matt Krumins, Deeper Than Diving)
Melbourne commuters’ travel plans have been thrown into chaos after a violent lightning storm swept through the city overnight.
Metro Trains said almost all major train lines were facing major delays, with the city loop earlier closed for all but outbound Hurstbridge/South Morang trains.
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Just after 7:30am, Metro confirmed services from Richmond station had resumed on the Alamein, Belgrave, Glen Waverley and Lilydale lines.
Trams are busier than usual but otherwise running to schedule.
Overnight, a family of five escaped unharmed after a lightning strike triggered a blaze that destroyed their Prahran home.
The Stanton family had earlier been awoken by the violent storm, possibly saving their lives as their home soon became engulfed by flames.
All five members of the family and their pets were able to evacuate safely, while the A’Beckett St house could not be saved.
“Everyone was in our bed and we heard this almighty crash,” homeowner Jillian Stanton said.
“My eldest daughter smelled smoke and saw the flames, she just said ‘get out’ and we all got out of the house.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has not issued any further warnings for today.
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