At least nine people, including a young girl, lost their lives when a powerful storm battered the east coast. The disaster struck from Christmas Eve into the following Tuesday, leaving authorities to account for numerous missing persons across the region in the days that followed.
According to statements from the deputy commissioner and reported by Queensland Emergency Services and ABC, a nine-year-old girl became separated from her family and was believed to be hidden behind nearby properties. Emergency water rescue teams arrived promptly and, after a brief but intense response, recovered the girl near the water where she had fallen. The incident underscores the perilous conditions created by the floodwaters and the rapid, high-stakes nature of swift-water rescue operations.
Across the region, thousands remained without power as the storm knocked out more than a thousand electricity lines. The outage analysis by Energex indicated that restoring full service would require more time and resources, with much of the damaged infrastructure necessitating extended repair work. Utility crews faced a challenging recovery, as old grids and damaged poles needed careful, methodical replacement to ensure safety and reliability for residents who depend on electricity for daily life and essential services.
Officials described extensive damage to the high-voltage grid, noting that some transmission structures suffered severe structural failures. Spokesperson Justin Coomber highlighted the unprecedented scale of the destruction, acknowledging that while the immediate goal is to restore power, the process will be measured and staged to maintain safety throughout the restoration effort. He emphasized that reestablishing the high-voltage network is feasible but will take time, and that coordinated efforts between utility teams and emergency responders would be essential to accelerating recovery while protecting public safety.