UPDATE: 4.20pm
MORE than 16,000 premises have lost power in Logan and the Scenic Rim, according to Energex’s latest figures.
Widespread outages continue in Cedar Grove (472), Cedar Vale (153), Glenlogan (98), Greenbank (576), Jimboomba (9658), Logan Village (172), Mundoolun (225), Munruben (937), North Maclean (74), Park Ridge (73), Park Ridge South (550), South Maclean (18), Stockleigh (297) and Waterford (193).
Woodhill Rural Fire Brigade first officer Ben Heilbronn said winds over 55km/h and hot temperatures had kept firefighters on alert for fires across the Scenic Rim region.
Energex spokesperson Danny Donald said the Logan and Scenic areas copped a flogging with nearly 80 powerlines torn down due to windy conditions.
EARLIER:
NEW Beith residents Fran and Tony Smith got “the fright of our lives” when a huge ironbark tree crashed across the corner of their home during today’s mostly dry storms.
The couple were among more than 12,000 south-west Logan and Scenic Rim suburbs impacted as more than 13,000 lightning strikes hit the district between Logan and the Gold Coast.
More than 6000 homes lost power in the Scenic Rim, including Beaudesert, Allenview, Beechmont, Benobble, Boyland, Canungra, Kagaru, Kerry, Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
Ms Smith said the tree had taken out their patio but fortunately missed the main body of the house.
She said the tree had made a tremendous bang as it hit the ground.
“It was a huge bang, unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like this before in my life,” Ms Smith said who arrived in Australia from Canada 12 years ago.
“Australia is just such a hard country.”
Ms Smith said the family was lucky because their dog which usually slept in the area had just come inside when the tree came down.
“We’re waiting for insurers to come and have a look at it,” she said.
“Most of the patio and gardens will need replacing.”
Almost 6000 Energex customers lost power as of 1.55pm, including Cedar Grove (469), Jimboomba (661), Chambers Flat (244), Glenlogan (244), Logan Village (150), Munruben (194), South Maclean (74), Greenbank (152), Munruben (937), Mundoolun (217), Waterford (193), Park Ridge South (517) and Stockleigh (297).
Energex senior corporate communications advisor Danny Donald said power would be restored as soon as possible once safe to do so when conditions ease.
“While the lighting is still cracking we can’t put crews up in buckets,” he said.
“We are ready to go but need to wait until lighting passes and repairs can be done.”
Mr Donald said there had been 33,500 lighting strikes recorded across the entire south-east region.
