Key events
Power still out for tens of thousands of people in Queensland
According to energy provider Energex, more than 86,000 people in south-east Queensland are still without power after the severe thunderstorm on Monday night.
Many households and businesses have now been without power for more than 24 hours, according to posts on social media:
24 hours without power and estimated another 2-3 days to be restored after a big storm hit the Gold Coast on Christmas Day. Thankful family & home are safe, but it is HOT 🔥🥵 and I don’t think I have another game of monopoly jr in me for a long time…
— Sarah Wymer 🎄 (@DrSarahWymer) December 26, 2023
@Energex saying the power could be out for days down on Gold Coast.
Fair bit of damage down here.
Come down to the beach unit and still no electricity connected. Speaking to others they’ve gone and stayed at friends or other homes. So much destroyed food in fridges for ppl 😔
— Nick Ng (@nicko_316) December 26, 2023
Cricket begins
Day two of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan has just started in Melbourne. You can follow the latest on our separate live blog here:
Beach pollution alert for Port Phillip Bay
The Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria says only 13 beaches around Port Phillip Bay are “fair” to swim in, after the heavy rains and thunderstorms.
Twenty-three beaches are considered to be in “poor” condition, including all four swimming sites on the Yarra, due to stormwater pollution.
According to the EPA, “fair” locations “may not be suitable for swimming” while “poor” swimming spots are “not suitable for swimming”.
You can view the full map on their website here.
Firefighter dead as bushfire threatens homes in WA
A volunteer firefighter has died while responding to a bushfire threatening homes near Esperance in Western Australia’s south, AAP reports.
The man was part of a crew in a private firefighting vehicle responding to the blaze near Coomalbidgup, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said last night.
Ambulance crews were called to the fireground yesterday afternoon after a man was understood to have fallen from a firetruck, the West Australian reported.
The fire began on Tuesday morning and burnt more than 7,000 hectares.
DFES said there would be an investigation into the man’s death and WA police would prepare a report for the coroner.
Several emergency-level bushfires have engulfed homes and ripped through bushland, rural properties and suburbs on Perth’s fringes, while firefighters have battled dozens of blazes across the state.
Flood warning issued in Victoria
A moderate flood warning has been issued for the Avoca River in Charlton, Victoria.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that moderate flooding is expected at Charlton, with a flood peak of 7m possible later this morning.
The Avoca River at Charlton is now at 5.88m and rising.
Campers in Gordon park are encouraged to relocate to higher ground as the high river levels may impact the campground.
Gold Coast train lines suspended
Gold Coast train lines have been suspended between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes stations due to the earlier thunderstorms.
Translink advised that Beenleigh line trains have now resumed between Beenleigh and Banoon.
Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected, with replacement buses carrying passengers.
WA storm warning downgraded
Early this morning an emergency thunderstorm warning was issued for the Kimberley region in WA but this has just been downgraded.
Emergency WA said:
The thunderstorms warning for Kimberley has been cancelled.
The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary.
Girl’s body found in stormwater drain
QFES deputy commissioner Kevin Walsh said the circumstances surrounding the death of a nine-year-old girl – whose body was found after she was feared lost in stormwater drains in Brisbane – were yet to be determined:
That will be subject to a report from the coroner. Police are investigating the matter at the moment so I don’t have the specific details, other than the young child went missing behind some properties and our swift water rescue teams from the fire and rescue service and SES attended a short time later.
We found the young girl deceased some way down from where she went into the water. Tragic circumstances.
The girl’s family, from Rochedale South, “are requesting privacy at this difficult time”.
Gympie search continues
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner Kevin Walsh said the search was continuing for a woman who was swept into flood waters in Gympie, along with two others.
The body of a 40-year-old woman was found in the Mary River, while one 46-year-old woman managed to reach safety. Another woman, also 46, remains missing.
Asked whether the search was now a recovery mission, Walsh told ABC News:
All services will be returning today to try and find the third person, but we have got grave concerns for their safety, obviously.
Search for missing swimmer
A search has resumed for a teenager who was swept out to sea on a New South Wales south coast beach yesterday.
About 3.30pm emergency services were called to Congo beach (10km south of Moruya) after a man was reported missing in the surf.
Police were informed that the 19-year-old had rescued a family member from the surf but then became caught in a rip and was swept out to sea. A search was “immediately commenced” but he could not be located.
The search resumed at 7am today involving police, PolAir, marine area command plus surf lifesavers, marine rescue and the Westpac rescue helicopter.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be with you on the Australia news live blog today.
Making news so far this Wednesday morning: the death toll from Australia’s Christmas storms has risen to six, with three more people missing. You can read the full details on this here.
Angus Hines of the Bureau of Meteorology said conditions were forecast to ease by this afternoon:
By and large by Wednesday afternoon we’re starting to see the end in sight for this thunderstorm outbreak.
NSW police have resumed a search for a 19-year-old swimmer who went missing in the surf off a south coast beach yesterday afternoon. We’ll have more on this shortly.
And the Australian cook and restaurateur Bill Granger has died in London aged 54, his family has confirmed.
See something that needs attention on the blog? You can get in touch on X/Twitter @emilywindwrites or send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
With that, let’s get started.
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