Tornadoes hit coastal towns: 20 hurt

A badly damaged house and downed power lines are seen after a tornado ripped through Bargara on Queensland's coast. YouTube/nikkogsxr

WARNING signals will be broadcast for the Wide Bay area as tornado activity continues throughout the night, with five tornadoes earlier hitting the region.

Earlier this evening, radar imagery was showing a sixth tornado gaining strength about 30km west of Maryborough and moving south to southwest at about 50km/h.

Locals are watching nervously after seeing Bargara, near Bundaberg, hit with the first tornado about 1pm.

It brought down powerlines, tearing off roofs and flinging iron and windows across the streets.

Burnett Heads, just north of Bargara, was then hit about 3pm with a third tornado ripping through Coonarr soon after.

For our comprehensive wrap of the flood crisis, click here.

Bungadoo, around 40km south southwest of Bundaberg was hit just after 4pm and the fifth tornado struck again at Burnett Heads about 6.21pm, damaging the roofs of two homes and several powerlines.

"We've had quite a lot of damage from the tornadoes, with major damage to shopping centres and powerlines down," Bureau of Meteorology technical forecaster Ken Kato said.

Raw vision from Channel Ten shows the impact of wild storms and a tornado near Bundaberg on Queensland's coast.

"I would not call them mini, they are proper tornados," he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology and Emergency Management Queensland will be issuing the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before updates to the severe weather events over radio or television.

EMQ Assistant Director-General Bruce Grady said EMQ had been advised by the BoM that current radar imagery suggests the strong possibility of tornado-like activity would continue to affect areas across the Wide Bay and Burnett District.

"While it is not possible to indicate where exactly these events will occur, destructive winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf has been forecast for the Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast and parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt Districts," Mr Grady said.

The tornadoes have left at least 20 people injured and two people seriously hurt.

Two people were critically injured when a giant pine fell on their parked car on the Esplanade at Bargara, while two homes were completely destroyed in the tornado that struck Burnett Heads.

Authorities said Burnett Heads was again struck by the latest in the series of twisters, which hit the area at 6pm AEST and 6.30pm.

Bargara Bowling Club after the tornado. Picture: Sabrina Lauriston

Two people were believed to have been injured in the second onslaught, with powerlines down and at least one roof torn from a home.

And the Bureau of Meteorology says the worst may be yet to come.

It has forecast the "strong possibility" of further tornado activity around Burnett Heads, Wide Bay and at Maryborough, south of Bundaberg.

See more pictures from the damage

Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey, who lives in Bundaberg, said 150 homes had been damaged at Burnett Heads.

Mr Dempsey said he could not confirm the number of injuries, but said a triage centre had been set up in Bargara to deal to tend to at least a dozen people injured by flying glass and other debris.

Two people were critically injured when their car was struck by a tree and were undergoing emergency treatment in Bundaberg hospital, he said.

This Twitter photo from Channel 7 Bundaberg shows emergency crews working to free a man trapped in his car after a pine tree fell on the vehicle during a mini-tornado. PIC: Pippa Bradshaw/ Channel 7

Mr Dempsey said East Bundaberg and small townships in the area had also been hit by mini-tornadoes, but it was not clear whether there had been several individual tornadoes or whether they were part of the same weather system.

Local councillor Greg Barnes told The Courier-Mail he witnessed the Bargara tornado as it tore through his neighbourhood.

Cr Barnes said a man and woman are currently trapped in their ute after a Norfolk Pine was brought down onto the cab of the vehicle. They appear to be seriously injured, he said.

Cr Barnes said the tornado swept through the northern end of Bargara, impacting buildings and homes including his own.

He said the most affected areas were between Bargara Road and McCavanagh Street and Davidson Street and the Esplanade.

Emergency crews have been activated and residents are urged to stay away from the area as there are live wires down.

Cr Barnes said he had heard reports the local bowls club may have lost its roof (Story continues below).

View Triple Twisters in a larger map

"It's not a good situation. I urge people to keep away. It's not something you need to come and see. It's very dangerous. There are live wires down in nearly every street,' Cr Barnes said.

"They're going to have to shut down the power out here. We need the public to play their part and keep away."

Bargara resident Judith McNamara, who witnessed the tornado through her kitchen window, said it left a car in her yard with a tree through it.

"All of a sudden ... I looked up and a tree went flying through the air ... and the car went up," she told ABC radio.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said it damaged homes, shops, a bowling club and government buildings.

All roads into the town are closed.

DAMAGE in Bargara after a tornado struck on Saturday. Pic: Ergon Facebook

Kathleen Donaghy, Kelmeny Fraser and Brittany Vonow with AAP

This Twitter picture from Channel Nine News shows emergency personnel at Bargara after the mini tornado hit. PIC: Courtesy Nine News.

A tornado has ripped through Bargara, tearing roofs off homes, ripping down powerlines and knocking down trees. Emergency crews are on scene and many roads have been closed. Picture: Ergon Enegy Facebook Page

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