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Victorians affected by thunderstorms again

More Victorians suffered breathing problems after Sunday's thunderstorms.

More Victorians suffered breathing problems after Sunday's thunderstorms. Photo: AAP

Paramedics have responded to several dozen calls from people with breathing problems as Victorians braced for another thunderstorm asthma event.

Temperatures peaked at 37C in Kyabram on Sunday, reaching 32C in Melbourne before a band of storms rolled across the state.

The high temperatures and windy conditions had authorities worried that it could bring a repeat of thunderstorm asthma attacks, two weeks after a freak storm hit Melbourne, killing eight people.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said paramedics received “several dozen calls” to people with breathing problems across the afternoon.

“It’s unclear if they were weather related,” the spokesman said.

The National Asthma Council Australia says thunderstorm conditions combined with high pollen counts can lead to breathing problems for people with asthma and hay fever.

“As we have seen with the recent events in Melbourne any serious asthma attack can be life-threatening and have tragic consequences,” Dr Jonathan Burdon said on Saturday.

“Act quickly if you start to have symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheezing.”

Tim Cartwright, who was acting Victoria Police chief commissioner in 2015, will review Ambulance Victoria’s response to the storm.

The results of Mr Cartwright’s review will be given to the Inspector General of Emergency Management, who is doing a review of the health system’s response to the storm.

-AAP

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