Base mobile stations fail severing phone connections to isolated Beenleigh and Maclean

Two flood affected communities, cut off by rising waters, have now had their mobile and fixed line connections cut, as the dangerous and life-threatening storms loom over the southeast.

Two flood affected communities, cut off by rising waters, have now had their mobile and fixed line connections cut, as the dangerous and life-threatening storms loom over the southeast.

NBN Co confirmed that Telstra, Optus and TPG/Vodafone mobile base stations are down in the federal electorate of Forde including a tower at South Maclean and Beenleigh.

Beenleigh resident Kylie Fulop, pictured, was relying on her phone as her Omaru house has been cut off by rising waters.

Mother of three Kylie Fulop at her Beenleigh home in Omaru Street which was inundated by the Logan River. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

South Maclean residents have been cut off to supplies and isolated by the flood waters for four days with the local bridge flooded.

The Maclean bridge only reopened this morning, hours before the state government issued a dangerous storm alert and called for a storm lockdown across the southeast.

The telco warned that base station sites which were still operational may also become congested as a result of the lost sites nearby.

Forde MP Bert van Manen said many of the current outages were a result of mains power outages and back-up batteries running out of power.

Forde MP Bert van Manen said phone connections have been cut to Beenleigh and Maclean, two of the most isolated and flooded areas in the southeast.

“Where they can, the telcos are working to set up generators and alternative options at these sites until power is back on,” Mr van Manen said.

“I understand they are working as quickly as possible, in conjunction with emergency services and energy companies, to get sites back online as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Telstra said it was making progress to restore mobile and landline services following severe weather in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.

“We know this a difficult time and we are working to get everything back up and running as quickly as possible and as soon as it is safe to do so,” Telstra said.

“We have technicians on the ground in areas we can access and we have more ready to go as soon as other areas open up.

“Many areas are however still inaccessible due to flood waters or are without power.

“We are working with power and local authorities to access the affected areas so we can get to work to bring services back online.”