About 600 homes damaged, 35,000 without power in Victoria amid wild weather

The south-east of the country is taking a battering and there is more to come as a very strong cold front' moves through on Sunday

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Emergency services have warned Victorians to expect more destructive winds as a powerful cold front heads towards Melbourne, while Tasmanian residents and businesses along the Derwent River prepared to evacuate on Sunday, as wild weather batters the south-east of the country.

Victoria's emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, said severe weather had already damaged more than 600 homes and left 35,000 without power, and would continue into the early hours of Monday morning.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email