Thousands without power as deluge hits south-east Queensland

Nearly 3800 homes and businesses remained without power on Sunday as heavy rain pummeled south-east Queensland in the early hours of the morning.

Energex reported 6905 customers were without power as of 8.30am, as thunder rumbled across the south-east. By 11am, that had reduced to 3793 customers.

A radar image of the rain system around Brisbane on Sunday morning.Credit: Bureau of Meteorology

Of those outages, 2402 were in Brisbane (up from 2240), 42 on the Gold Coast (down from 2400), 624 in the Redlands (down from 2207), 196 in Moreton Bay (down from 400), and 529 at Logan (up from 80).

The biggest rain falls were at Brisbane Airport, which reported 93.8 millimetres as of 11am, and Gatton, with 91.8 millimetres.

Brisbane City had reported 68.4 millimetres.

The rainfall prompted an “initial minor flood warning” from the Bureau of Meteorology for the Logan and Albert rivers.

“The Logan River at Maclean Bridge is currently at 2.69 metres and rising, below the minor flood level [10 metres],” the bureau said.

“The Logan River at Maclean Bridge may reach the minor flood level on Sunday afternoon. Further rises are possible with forecast rainfall.”

Further north, disaster assistance for cyclone-affected communities in north Queensland has been extended, with residents now eligible for relief payments.

Those living within the Townsville City and Burdekin Shire council areas can now apply for personal hardship assistance grants, worth $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more, to help cover the cost of essentials.

“The announcement today of Personal Hardship Assistance grants will enable impacted residents in Townsville and the Burdekin Shire to cover the costs of life’s essentials, particularly perishable items,” federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

“Damage assessments across the impacted region are ongoing and will guide decisions on other support that may be required for communities and local councils.”

Information on disaster assistance can be found at disasterassist.gov.au or qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Assistance can also be sought through the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Get the inside word on the news, sport, food, people and places Brisbane is talking about. Sign up for our City Talk newsletter here.