QLD storms: Brutal hailstorms take their toll from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast
Fierce storms that lashed parts of southeast Queensland with cricket ball-size hail have left a swathe of damage through the region, with 225,000 lightning strikes recorded, 23,000 left without power, trees downed and countless cars and property damaged.
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RESIDENTS of southeast Queensland are mopping up after widespread fierce storms pummelled some suburbs felling trees, and large hailstones smashing car windscreens.
Around 23,000 homes between the Gold Coast and Gympie lost power at the height of the storms on Sunday afternoon, with Energex recording 225,000 lightning strikes between midday and 6.30pm.
Around 700 homes were still waiting for electricity to be restored on Monday morning.
The Sunshine Coast was hardest hit, with cricket-ball sized hail smashing the windscreens of cars travelling on the Bruce Highway.
Similar-sized hail was recorded in the Glasshouse Mountains, and on the coast at Caloundra, which also received around 35mm of rain.
Smaller hail was recorded in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, and as far south as Southport on the Gold Coast and Tamborine inthe hinterland.
However the Bureau of Meteorology said most of the bushfire-affected areas missed out on any rain.
“Unfortunately it’s not been a huge help to those fighting the fires,” forecaster Kimba Wong said.
Suncorp have received over 1000 insurance claims related to damage from the storm, the majority of which being motor damage from hailstones.
The RACQ is reporting the number of claims being made is rapidly rising, with 188 home claims and 483 car claims already being assessed.
More than 160 calls have been made to the State Emergency Services across the Sunshine Coast.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the SES had received 163 calls for assistance after the severe storm wreaked havoc across the Coast.
A total of 137 of those calls were related to structural damage, one of which was a house at Mooloolaba that was evacuated after it was reported to be “leaning” after the storm.
The QFES spokeswoman said crews were called to the property on Buderim Ave after residents and a neighbouring property evacuated, fearing the house was unsafe and would damage the home next-door.
Police and emergency services secured the scene.
A high-voltage concrete power pole snapped near Forest Glen during the storm, with Energex spokesman Danny Donald saying that level of damage was “virtually unheard of”.
More than 200 homes are still without power across the Sunshine Coast, with Energex crews working tirelessly to fix lines damaged in the storm.
The Sunshine Coast suburbs most affected by the storm were Mooloolaba, Mountain Creek, Palmview, Sippy Downs and Caloundra West, the QFES spokeswoman said.
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