Tens of thousands of Queenslanders are without power and facing a huge clean-up after a storm hit yesterday, bringing with it cyclonic winds and softball-sized hail.
Twelve people were injured during the storm, and Premier Campbell Newman said he was thankful there were no fatalities.
"Mercifully, [we] only had reports of 12 people being injured," he said, adding he believed the injuries were "relatively minor".
"I'm astounded but so grateful that that is all that we've got given the amount of shrapnel flying around last night."
The Queensland Government estimated the damage bill was likely to exceed $100 million, the ABC reported.
"There has been extraordinary damage across Brisbane, particularly also in the CBD," Transport Minister Scott Emerson said.
"I think the damage bill will be more than $100 million."
The Insurance Council of Australia has received more than 3000 claims totalling more than $25 million, and declared the storm a catastrophic weather event.
"Hail storms do tend to cause extensive high-value damage, and the fact that this one took place at peak hour has probably exacerbated that," spokesman Campbell Fuller said.
"That means there are more motor vehicles on the roads."
Energex spokesman Graham Metcalf said 120 crews were working in dangerous conditions to get the power back on the nearly 70,000 properties still without electricity.
