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A person has died after being swept away in a stormwater drain as severe storms lashed southeast Queensland.
Storms that ripped across south-east Queensland, bringing down power lines, trapping people in floodwaters and killing a man have been described as the most damaging in a quarter of a century.
The storms hit the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan, and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon, bringing very heavy rain, damaging winds, large hailstones and flash flooding.
Brisbane's north-western suburbs bore the brunt with roofs ripped from houses, power lines brought down and a freight train derailed at Caboolture.
More than 230,000 homes and businesses lost power and State Emergency Service volunteers have fielded hundreds of calls for assistance, while firefighters worked to save those trapped in floodwaters.
A 20-year-old was killed when he was swept away by storm water while photographing the storm with a 23-year-old friend at Chermside.
Police said the pair were carried off by the flood as the waters rose suddenly.
"One person was able to hold on to a grate and QFRS (Queensland Fire and Rescue Service) were able to pluck him out, however, they couldn't find the second person," a police spokeswoman said.
The body of the 20-year-old was found a few hours later.
A couple trapped in their vehicle on Chaprowe Road, The Gap, were saved after firefighters discovered live power lines across the vehicle.
And the Keperra Sanctuary Nursing Home was partially evacuated after significant structural damage.
Energex workers were Monday morning still working to restore power to more than 103,000 homes and businesses, but the supply might not be reconnected until the afternoon due to the extent of the damage.
"Sunday's storms were described by seasoned Energex field staff as the most damaging in around a quarter of a century," an Energex spokesman said.
"More than 650 power lines equivalent to 33km of wire were ripped from poles by trees and tree branches being carried by high winds.
"Areas in Brisbane's northern suburbs saw roofing iron torn from homes and thrown into the 33,000-volt network."
Peak-hour traffic on Monday morning is expected to be impacted with traffic lights out across the city and train services between Caboolture and Elimbah stations replaced by buses due to the derailment.
The storms have closed four schools in Brisbane and more than 10 others have sustained damage.
Queensland Education Minister Rod Welford said Morayfield State High School was closed on Monday due to flooding and fallen powerlines.
He said Burpengary State School was open for emergency supervision only, and more than 10 other public schools had been damaged.
The Brisbane Catholic Education Centre said three of its schools were closed due to storm damage: All Saints Primary at Albany Creek; St Peter Chanel Primary at The Gap; and St Andrew's Primary at Ferny Grove.
Two other Catholic schools, St William's Primary at Grovely and Our Lady of Dolours Primary at Mitchelton, are operating on skeleton staff and students had been asked to stay home if possible.
Mr Welford said the other public schools damaged in the storms were Ferny Grove State High School, Samford State School, The Gap State School, The Gap State High School, Hilder Road State School, Patricks Road State School, Grovely State School, Ashgrove State School, Albany Creek State School, Tamborine Mountain State School.
But they remained open, he said.
The damage was being assessed and repaired, and parents should contact affected schools directly for more information, Mr Welford said.
"Most of the damage has occurred as a result of fallen trees and damaged roofs."
The rainfall has given Brisbane an extra three to four days of water supply.
Combined dam capacity increased by 0.08 per cent after storms hit Brisbane on Sunday night.
Somerset Dam rose by 24mm and North Pine Dam by 32mm - the largest inflow for both dams in the past two and a half months.
Dam levels are expected to increase over the week with more heavy rain forecast.
- AAP