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A Ninth Person Has Died From Melbourne's 'Asthma Thunderstorm'

The death toll rises from the November thunderstorm.
The death toll has risen to nine, after eight people died in November.
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The death toll has risen to nine, after eight people died in November.

A ninth person has died following the 'asthma thunderstorm' which swept Victoria last year.

The death comes months after eight people died from the freak weather event in November.

In November, the storm caused an outbreak of severe breathing difficulties across the city last week and sparked 1900 calls to emergency services which Ambulance Victoria said was six-times the normal rate, while an additional 60 ambulances were put on to keep up with demand.

There were at least 8500 people treated due to the thunderstorm, with many experiencing breathing problems.

The identity of the ninth person has not been revealed. Among the victims are Apollo Papadopoulos, 35, law student Hope Carnevali, 20, and high-school student Omar Moujalled, 18.

The family of Carnevali has said she died in her family's arms while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Health minister Jill Hennessy announced a state-wide review of the emergency response to the thunderstorm asthma event last year.

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