Nine lives lost in Christmas and Boxing Day storm tragedies

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Nine people have died in various storm and water-related tragedies across Australia after severe storms smashed the east coast from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.

From Queensland to Victoria, lives have been lost and numerous homes and businesses have been damaged.

Here is the state of play for the three states.

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Storm damage south east Queensland, December 27, 2023.

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Storm damage south east Queensland, December 27, 2023.

Queensland

Three people have been found dead after a large boat with 11 people on board capsized on Boxing Day near Brisbane.

The boat capsized yesterday just south of Green Island in Moreton Bay and eight people were retrieved but sadly today the bodies of three men, aged 48, 69 and 59, were found in the water.

But the tragedies over the festive period have continued, 200km away from the boating disaster at Moreton Bay another search and rescue operation has come to an end at Gympie

A 46-year-old woman was found dead at Mary River near Gympie this afternoon after she and two others were swept away in a storm drain near Kidd Bridge near Gympie at 3.20pm yesterday.

One other woman was found dead yesterday after the incident while another survived, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll added.

"The events have certainly taken a tragic turn in the south-east, so I ask that everyone heeds those warnings, they listen to authorities, they stay out of the dangerous conditions," she said.

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Storm damage south east Queensland, December 27, 2023.Storm damage south east Queensland, December 27, 2023.

The disasters in Queensland didn't stop there as Mia, 9, was found dead after she went missing during floods at Logan on Boxing Day.

A falling tree also killed a woman on the Gold Coast on Christmas Day.

Premier Steven Miles called the storm death toll in the state tragic with residents grieving for those lost.

He said energy workers are repairing the 900 powerlines that were damaged after the monster storms over Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

25,000 houses have been reconnected but tens of thousands remain without power.

Miles said the disaster hardship funding arrangements have been activated for residents in the Gold Coast impacted by the recent storms.

More information about this funding assistance can be found here.

Miles said the damage bill for the recent floods in Far North Queensland and the cyclonic-like storms in the state's south-east will reach into the billions.

But the warnings are not over, as more storms are forecast for the south-east tonight.

On Christmas Day, 250,000 lightning strikes were recorded and yesterday there were a further 150,000 revealing the intensity of the storms.

Miles called these southeastern storms "unprecedented" after a concrete power pole was destroyed, something he had never seen happen.

Now the focus is on the cleanup.

"Our focus is on the immediate response and making homes and businesses safe," he said.

Victoria

A man in Victoria's east was killed on Boxing Day by a falling tree while a woman died in floodwaters at a campsite in Buchan.

Widespread flooding is continuing across Victoria but the weather emergency peaked overnight.

A watch and act warning has been issued for Avoca River to Charlton Town with moderate flooding likely to develop this morning with a river peak of 7 metres expected.

Flash flooding in Victoria on Boxing Day.

"Rainfall totals of 30-105 mm were recorded in the Avoca catchment in the 48 hours to 9.00 am Tuesday," Victoria Emergency said.

No more rainfall is forecast for that region.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued initial minor flood warnings for Bunyip River, Snowy River, Werribee River and the Loddon River.

You can check all of the minor flood warnings on Emergency Victoria here.

New South Wales

NSW hasn't missed the severe weather as a supercell sweeps across the city this afternoon.

Squally winds, rain and hail were forecast to strike between Hornsby and Kiama.

Residents were warned to stay inside during the storm.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1739850208274468934

More than 1217 incidents have been attended to by 1000 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers since December 22.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearn said in the last 24 hours crews had attended to 500 incidents including seven flood rescues at Tathra, Manar, Lake Bathurst, Tarago, Bega and at Narrabarba near Eden.

Video shows lightning striking down a tree above a garage in Singleton and hail raining down on a backyard in Rutherford.

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Assistant Commissioner Kearns said incidents involving hail-damaged properties and fallen trees have demanded attention in the Hunter.

"At Rutherford and Maitland, our crews are actively involved in the cleanup after hail damaged 80 properties, with assessments ongoing," Kearns said.

Kearns said conditions were expected to ease in the coming days.

"With the holiday season and unpredictable weather conditions, it's essential for everyone to stay informed and prioritise safety," he said.