Key Points
- Storms have killed 10 people in Queensland and Victoria.
- A nine-year-old girl's body was found in stormwater drains in Brisbane after an extensive search.
- The storms left over 120,000 Queensland households without power, with more than 800 powerlines down.
Storms and severe weather have continued to take lives across Queensland and Victoria with 10 people dead.
The bodies of two women aged 46 and 40 were recovered near Gympie following a search of the Mary River.
Police said the women had been "exploring" in a storm drain when they were swept away by water on Boxing Day.
A third member of the group managed to get to safety.
Three men - a 48-year-old from Alexandra Hills, a 69-year-old from Meridan Plains and a 59-year-old from Tingalpa - died after a boat capsized in Moreton Bay on Tuesday afternoon with 11 passengers aboard.
Paramedics took eight patients to hospital in a stable condition.
Search and rescue efforts have been finalised and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the deaths and several others had occurred during a period of "extraordinarily difficult weather" and urged people in affected regions to listen to authorities and stay out of dangerous areas.
The body of a nine-year-old girl was found following an extensive police search on Tuesday evening after she was lost in stormwater drains in Brisbane.
Christmas storms also accounted for , with a 59-year-old woman fatally struck by a falling tree on the Gold Coast.
Fallen trees seen at Reedy Creek on the Gold Coast on 26 December. Source: AAP / Dave Hunt
"Every Queenslander will have those families in our thoughts and prayers," he said.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said his city was "not out of the woods" but forecasts for clearer weather would allow the SES to attend 800 storm-damaged homes.
Power being restored to homes and businesses
Queensland Energy Minster Mick de Brenni said on Wednesday that Energex power grid crews had been brought back early from flooding in Cairns to help restore services around the Gold Coast.
De Brenni said 85,700 homes and businesses in the Gold Coast and Logan areas and about 3,000 around Brisbane had lost power on Tuesday night but 45,000 of those had now had services restored.
"There are about 950 instances of power lines down. That is an extraordinarily high number," he said.
Anthony Albanese speaks to SES workers in Cairns on 22 December. Source: AAP / Brian Cassey
Prime minister says his 'heart goes out' to victims' families
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a statement expressing sympathy for the families of those who have died.
"My heart goes out to the families of those Australians who have lost their lives – and to the communities taking care of them," Albanese wrote on social media platform X.
"This summer, Australians are facing devastating floods, fires and storms," he added.
"But as the people of Cairns showed me last week, the worst of times brings out the best in the Australian character."
Albanese thanked essential services and emergency personnel "working gruelling shifts to keep the lights on and to keep us safe".
"As communities across Australia experience fires, floods and storms, we can help by remaining vigilant. We can help by following emergency updates online or on radio, and looking out for neighbours and friends."
Two killed in regional Victoria
In Victoria, a woman died after a campground in regional Victoria was hit by flash flooding as the state was battered by thunderstorms.
Emergency workers were called to the Buchan campground in east Gippsland just after 5pm on Tuesday. The woman was found dead about 6.45pm.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 44-year-old man was killed after a branch fell on his property in Caringal.
Emergency workers rescued a 29-year-old woman who was seen clutching onto a tree in rapid waters in the Werribee River at the Buchan campground in east Gippsland on Wednesday. Source: AAP / Victoria Police
The 29-year-old woman made her way into the Werribee River, west of Melbourne, on Tuesday to rescue her dog Minka about 1.30pm, police said.
But she lost her footing and was swept about 20m downstream, near Redgum Close, Werribee.
A bystander noticed the woman holding onto a tree in the rapid waters and called emergency services.
Water Police and Search and Rescue members pulled Minka and the woman onto the riverbank, where they were found not to be seriously injured.
Victoria continued to be battered by thunderstorms and remained on flood watch on Boxing Day after a wet Christmas.
The State Emergency Service responded to more than 1,000 assistance requests over three days.
