Qld: Storms continue to lash SE Queensland

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2001
Qld: Storms continue to lash SE Queensland

BRISBANE, Dec 31 AAP - Storms continued to lash south-east Queensland today as mopping-up
operations continued following strong winds and rain that battered the region yesterday
and overnight.

The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology has predicted more storms tonight and emergency
services will be on standby.

Two storms which swept through the region this afternoon left thousands without power.

A spokeswoman for electricity distributor Energex said a storm around 1.30pm (AEST)
left 11,000 customers between Esk and Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast without power.

Another storm later in the afternoon around Gatton, Laidley and north of Brisbane left
another 8,000 Energex customers without electricity.

An Ergon Energy spokesman said almost 6,000 customers from north of Toowoomba and across
the Darling Downs also lost power because of the two storms.

The storms came on top of strong winds and rain which swept from the Darling Downs
across to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast yesterday and left 43,000 without electricity.

Most households are expected to have power by late tonight with restoration being carried
out as quickly as possible, especially on the Sunshine Coast, which was the worst affected.

"There has been significant damage to the network in that area from tree branches blown
across powerlines - but supplies are being restored all the time," an Energex spokeswoman
said.

Brisbane SES spokesman John Butler said most of the calls for assistance in Brisbane
were from the southside.

He said most of the 25 calls were for roof maintenance problems.

"Gutters blocked up and a few loose roof tiles from the winds," Mr Butler said.

"None of it was what we would call serious damage."

AAP ch/cjh/de

KEYWORD: STORM 2ND NIGHTLEAD

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