Recent severe weather conditions have taken a toll on the eastern states of Australia, particularly in Queensland and Victoria, resulting in at least 10 deaths.
The incidents unfolded as a boat, carrying 11 individuals, capsized in rough weather off the south Queensland coast, leading to the unfortunate deaths of three men on Tuesday.
Eight survivors from the incident were transported to the hospital and are reported to be in stable conditions.
In the city of Gold Coast, Queensland, a 59-year-old woman lost her life on Monday night when a tree fell due to adverse weather conditions.
Another heartbreaking incident occurred in Brisbane, where the body of a nine-year-old girl was discovered on Tuesday after she went missing in a flooded stormwater drain.
Tragedy further struck in the town of Gympie, Queensland, as the bodies of two women, aged 40 and 46, were found in the Mary River.
The three women were swept into the flooded river through a stormwater drain, and the surviving 46-year-old woman managed to save herself.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll attributed the series of unfortunate events to the “extraordinarily difficult weather” experienced in the region, emphasising the challenging conditions faced by the affected communities.
The impact of severe weather extended to regional Victoria, where an unidentified woman was found dead at a campground in Buchan as floodwaters receded.
Additionally, a 44-year-old man lost his life when a branch fell on his rural property in Caringal, eastern Victoria.
The severe weather has caused widespread disruptions, with thunderstorms and strong winds bringing down over 1,000 power lines in parts of Queensland.
As a result, approximately 85,000 people are currently without electricity, adding to the challenges faced by communities grappling with the aftermath of the destructive weather conditions.
