18 Nov 2008

Rudd to inspect Queensland storm damage

9:33 am on 18 November 2008

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to inspect the damage in south-east Queensland from storms on Sunday.

His flight home from the G20 summit in Washington is being diverted from Canberra to Brisbane on Tuesday.

The storms are described as the worst in the region in 25 years.

More than 4000 houses were damaged: 300 of them seriously and at least 30 are beyond repair.

The ABC reports the worst hit areas include The Gap, Kenmore, Arana Hills, Albany Creek and north-west of Brisbane, towards Samford and Dayboro.

Two Catholic primary schools and a number of state schools have been closed until further notice.

The State and Federal governments have activated disaster assistance for victims.

Brisbane was declared a natural disaster zone on Monday afternoon.

Natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements apply to Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Somerset, Logan City and the Sunshine Coast.