SYDNEY - Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc in Australia's eastern states during the Christmas holidays, claiming the lives of ten individuals, according to authorities on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of properties remain without power as wild weather, characterized by large hailstones and heavy rains, pounded Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland on December 25 and 26. The onslaught caused roofs to be blown off and trees to fall, with over 90,000 households still grappling with power outages.

Tragedy struck when a yacht capsized near Green Island in Moreton Bay, resulting in the deaths of three men. In another heartbreaking incident, two women were found dead near Gympie after being swept away in flooded stormwater drains, while a nine-year-old girl met a similar fate in a drain in Brisbane's south. A man in Victoria lost his life due to flash flooding in a campground, where a woman was also discovered dead.

Two additional casualties were attributed to falling trees during the storms. The destruction included the unprecedented collapse of a concrete power line, causing substantial damage, as highlighted by Queensland Premier Steven Miles, who estimated the combined impact of Cyclone Jasper earlier this month and the recent thunderstorms to be in the billions.

Despite the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting ongoing rain, it is anticipated that the extreme weather will subside later on Wednesday. Forecaster Jonathan How emphasized a continued risk of severe thunderstorms along the east coast. The incidents follow earlier heatwaves and bushfires, notably triggered by Cyclone Jasper.

Simon Bradshaw, research director at the Climate Council, drew attention to the escalating climate consequences evident in Australia's recent experiences. While the east contends with rain, contrasting challenges persist in the west, where regions are battling fires. Tragically, a volunteer firefighter lost their life while responding to a bushfire, underscoring the diverse climate-related crises unfolding across the country during this El Niño-influenced summer.