SYDNEY, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Emergency flood warnings were issued for communities in the northeastern Australian state of Queensland on Thursday.

Authorities issued Watch and Act alerts for communities along the Jandowae Creek and in the South Burnett region, both approximately 180 km northwest of Brisbane, with residents in low-lying areas urged to leave.

"Warn neighbors, secure belongings and enact your emergency plan," the alert said.

Intense rainfall over several days in Queensland's populous southeast triggered flash flooding and power outages in the area.

Over 2,000 properties in the area were without power on Wednesday night. As of Thursday morning, power had been restored to most of the affected properties.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) had 12 flood warnings in places across the state on Thursday, including a major warning for the Logan River south of Brisbane.

The State Emergency Service said it received 145 calls for assistance in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, mostly in the state's southeast and connected to the heavy rain.

The region's biggest dam at Wivenhoe, west of Brisbane, on Tuesday began releasing water after reaching 90 percent capacity. It marked the first release of water from the dam since severe flooding in 2022.

The BoM said that conditions would ease in Queensland's southeast on Thursday, with storms set to hit the state's north and west. Enditem

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