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Storm-damaged crane strands holidaymakers at Gold Coast caravan park
A fierce storm battered Southport on the Gold Coast on Christmas Day, partially collapsing a 30-tonne construction crane and forcing the evacuation of around 80 holidaymakers from the nearby Broadwater Tourist Park.
Authorities established an exclusion zone encompassing several streets and the caravan park after the crane's boom bent in half amid wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h. Emergency services provided temporary accommodation for displaced tourists, many of whom had to flee amid flying debris, overturned boats, and damaged awnings.
Efforts to dismantle the damaged crane involve two additional cranes and ground stabilization with sand, but persistent high winds have delayed operations. Officials anticipate the zone could remain in place for days, with park residents unable to access their sites until safety is assured. Minor injuries were treated, and the Bureau of Meteorology attributed the chaos to a intense microburst.
