Storm drenches Sydney

SYDNEY, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Thunderstorms hit Sydney and nearby areas in eastern Australia late Friday, flooding streets and bringing roofs down, authorities said.

More than an inch of rain fell in an hour in some areas, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

After getting its first call for a rain-related emergency at 7 p.m., the State Emergency Service for New South Wales got 161 more pleas for help within four hours -- some from people trapped in houses and other buildings and six from people stranded in cars.

''It has certainly been a busy night," a spokeswoman said.

Chris Webb, a meteorologist, described the storm as a one in five-to-10 year event.

Buildings that collapsed included a Kings Cross nightclub, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Webb predicted more rain during the weekend.