Heavy rain and damaging winds have battered communities in north and outback Queensland, with about 30,000 properties losing power during the storm's peak.
Wild storms swept in on Tuesday night with reports of property damage, including roofs being ripped off and debris smashing through windows and homes.
Wind gusts tore 1000 square metres from the roof of Mount Isa Hospital. Debris from the roof also damaged parts of an adjoining block.
"Thankfully, no one was injured, for which we are very grateful,'' North West Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said.
"Later today, we are bringing in a large crane to help us remove debris and assess the full extent of the damage so we can start planning for the permanent repair work that will be necessary."
The area affected was an office space with staff moved to another area.
An operating theatre and children's ward were water damaged in the storm but operations have not been affected.
At Moranbah, inland from Mackay, severe winds gusted beyond 100km/h ripping down power lines and trees, with trampolines said to have flown through the air.
Three schools and two childcare centres are closed on Wednesday following the storms.
"I can easily say that last night's storm was the worst storm I've ever been through," Damian Huxham wrote on Facebook.
"Moranbah looks like a war zone."
Clean-up has begun with about 4000 properties still without power in the town and businesses closed due to storm damage.
At nearby Clermont, residents reported large hail stones, while the small town of Giru, just south of Townsville, copped more than 90mm of rain.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned more damaging and dangerous storms are likely to affect inland northern communities, from about Richmond and Hughenden, up to the Gulf of Carpentaria on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
