Queensland's state capital and biggest city, Brisbane, has been declared a natural disaster area as soldiers begin to repair damage caused by one of the worst storms to hit the city in two decades.
More than 70,000 homes in Brisbane and surrounding areas are still without power after Sunday's storm, which brought hail and wind gusts of up to 130 kilometres an hour and took off house roofs and toppled trees. Torrential rain also caused flash flooding.
At one point, more than 230,000 homes and businesses were left without power.
The storm cut a path of destruction through Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
In Brisbane's northern suburbs, a 20-year-old man died after he was swept away by swiftly rising water while photographing the storm.
Brisbane's mayor says 1,200 people, including police and soldiers, are working with emergency services on the clean-up.
Australia's acting prime minister Julia Gillard, says the government will help where it can, while the state's premier, Anna Bligh, has visited the worst-hit areas.
