17 hurt by mini-tornadoes in state's northeast A petrol station is damaged in Euroa. A MAN was in a critical condition with a fractured skull and 17 others were in hospital after a string of mini-tornadoes roared through Victoria's northeast. The townships of Yarrawonga, Bundalong, Rutherglen, Koonoomoo and Mulwala are believed to have been the hardest hit after wild whirlwinds lashed the region about 7.50pm. Caravans were overturned, roofs were ripped off homes and buildings damaged. Up to 11 people were being treated at the Yarrawonga Hospital, with three of the cases described as serious. Four people were being treated at another hospital, while up to 80 people had become the "walking wounded." Ambulance Victoria's spokesman John Mullen said there was "still potential for more serious cases to be found." "Access to the areas is proving to be a problem though because of the number of fallen trees," he said. The SES received more than 1000 requests for assistance statewide. "We're receiving reports of significant building damage, particularly collapsed buildings," SES spokesman Lachlan Quick said. We are urging everyone to remain inside. There will be quite a bit of debris around and many of the roads in these towns will be blocked. Strong wind gusts caused this tree to crash on to a parked van and power lines in Old Forest Road, The Basin. Picture: Steve Tanner Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said it was "highly likely or probable multiple tornadoes did occur." "I think we'll see more footage and photos of the affected towards in the daylight which will give us more clues," he said. Wild winds also battered other parts of the state. A Knox boy had a close escape on his way to school when a tree fell in his path. The SES was also called out to remove a large gum tree had fallen on to a car after hitting a powerline in The Basin's Old Forest Rd. A windsurfer roars past the Queen Mary 2 in Port Phillip Bay. Power and traffic flow in the area are likely to be disrupted for the rest of the afternoon. One driver was being checked by paramedics after a tree crushed his car in Kilmore during high wind gusts. A woman called for help after a tree fell on her vehicle in Kew, bringing down live power lines on the ground around the car. Firefighters, SES and ambulance officers were on the scene to safely remove her from the car. St Kilda earlier recorded a top gust of 100km/h. Tullamarine reached a top of 94km/h with other suburbs had winds between 70km/h and 90km/h. with Alex White and Angus Thompson