Australia battered by Storm resulting in nine deaths, including a 9-year-old girl
A nine-year-old child who was dragged into a rushing storm drain in the suburbs of Brisbane is among the deceased.
Australia's eastern states faced a devastating blow over the Christmas holidays as severe storms wreaked havoc, resulting in at least nine casualties and leaving tens of thousands of households without power. The states of Victoria and Queensland bore the brunt of the destructive weather, with reports of fatalities and extensive damage.
Among the victims, eight lives were lost, including a nine-year-old girl who was tragically swept away in a flooded storm drain on the outskirts of Brisbane, Queensland's capital. In Gympie, 180km north of Brisbane, three women were swept into a storm drain during surging floodwaters, resulting in two fatalities, while one survivor was rescued.
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig expressed the tragic impact on families in the region during the festive season, calling it "absolutely tragic news."
The severe thunderstorms struck on December 25 and December 26, bringing large hailstones, high winds, and torrential rain. Rivers overflowed, roofs were torn off, and trees came crashing down in some of the worst-affected areas.
A separate maritime incident saw a boat capsizing in Moreton Bay, Queensland, throwing eleven people into the ocean. Tragically, three individuals drowned, while the remaining eight were rescued and taken to the hospital in stable condition, as confirmed by Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings of ongoing risks, citing the potential for "dangerous" storms, "life-threatening" floods, "giant" hail, and "damaging" winds in coastal regions of Queensland.
Energex, Queensland's power company, reported over 1,000 downed power lines, leaving approximately 86,000 households without electricity. Restoration efforts were expected to take several days.
In Victoria, flash floods claimed a life in a regional campground in Buchan, while falling trees resulted in two additional fatalities. The Sydney to Hobart yacht race also faced challenges, with eight entrants withdrawing due to the stormy conditions.
Australia, currently experiencing El Niño, is grappling with extreme weather events ranging from wildfires in the west to tropical cyclones and flooding in the east. The recent storms follow the landfall of former Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which caused widespread damage in Queensland earlier this month. In the west, volunteer firefighters are battling bushfires, with reports of a tragic loss of life among their ranks. The nation remains on high alert as it navigates through the impacts of these weather-related challenges.
