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Scary scenes inside Kmart store as wild weather causes havoc

Remarkable footage from inside a Kmart store in Queensland has illustrated the severity of the storms currently lashing parts of the state.

The footage was shared to social media by local woman, Kelsey, and was taken at the Kmart at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

In the video, water is seen gushing out of the roof near the self-serve checkouts.

The roof at Sunshine Plaza's Kmart in Maroochydore collapsed on Wednesday due to the brutal weather, causing the store to be evacuated. Source: Supplied/Kelsey Hill
The roof at Sunshine Plaza's Kmart in Maroochydore collapsed on Wednesday due to the brutal weather, causing the store to be evacuated. Source: Supplied/Kelsey Hill

Kelsey told Yahoo News Australia she and her friends Luke and Raechel didn't know how to react.

"It seemed to start as a fairly substantial leak, and as the ceiling filled it just collapsed entirely," she said.

The leaking happened just a metre away from where Kelsey was standing. She said it then started leaking near the entry and exit.

"It was terrifying honestly," she said.

"At first we thought 'oh well just a bit of water' but after the ceiling collapsed, it could have fallen right on top of us if we were only another metre to the left."

Kmart Sunshine Plaza.
The Sunshine Plaza Kmart store was affected by the heavy rainfall across the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday afternoon. Source: Google Maps/FILE

Fortunately, Kelsey, Luke and Raechel are all okay.

Kelsey said the staff were all "rather shocked", and the store was evacuated.

"It was definitely an unexpected shock to the system!" Kelsey said.

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Queensland

The Bureau of Meteorology listed two severe thunderstorm warnings for southeast Queensland on Wednesday.

The BoM sent out a warning for people in parts of Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast Forecast Districts, areas to the north of Maroochydore.

The warning was for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall in those areas. The BoM warned flash flooding may also occur due to the rain.

Just before 6.30pm, the bureau said severe thunderstorms had cleared offshore of the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane regions.

Further north near Tiaro, the bureau issued a separate weather warning at 8.16pm.

"The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 8:10 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near the ranges between Biggenden and Tiaro," the warning says.

"These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Mount Kanighan by 8:40 pm."

The bureau also issued some advice from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

It is advised, people in affected areas should:

  • Move your car under cover or away from trees.

  • Secure loose outdoor items.

  • Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it's flooded, forget it.

  • Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.

  • Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.

  • Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.

  • For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

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