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Shoppers had to be evacuated when the roof of a Kmart store started to cave in as golf-ball sized hailstones and over 100,000 lightning strikes smashed parts of southeast Queensland overnight.

Footage uploaded to social media by one panicked shopper shows large sections of the ceiling collapsing at opposite ends of the Maroochydore store at Sunshine Plaza, with huge amounts of water gushing to the floor over exposed electrical wires.

Frightened customers are seen making their way out the discount chain at about 5:30pm on Wednesday, with one woman making a narrow escape.

© Provided by Daily MailOver 100,000 lightning strikes smashed Brisbane (pictured) and parts of southeast Queensland overnight

© Provided by Daily MailThe Bureau of Meteorology sent out emergency text to residents living in the Moreton Bay region, north of Brisbane, warning those nearby to take shelter

'It was terrifying honestly,' a shopper named Kelsey told Yahoo News.

'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.

'It was definitely an unexpected shock to the system!'

At about the same time, another harrowing ordeal was playing out on the Sunshine Coast with a family trapped in their car for almost two hours after a tree was uprooted.  

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were called to in Arundell Ave in Nambour at about 6pm where they found a tree and powerlines strewn over the vehicle. 

Fire crews with the help of specialists from power provider Energex were able to secure the scene and remove the occupants without any injuries.    

The SES received more than 180 requests for assistance on Wednesday. Pictured: A tree topples onto a house

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The southeast region of Queensland was battered last night by a low-pressure system bringing damaging winds, large hailstones, heavy rain and flash flooding in some parts.

Video: Weather Bureau warns of 'unusual' storms set to slam east coast (9News.com.au)

Weather Bureau warns of 'unusual' storms set to slam east coast

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The Bureau of Meteorology sent out emergency text to residents living in the Moreton Bay region, north of Brisbane, warning those nearby to take shelter.

'BoM Emergency Announcement - the storms impacting the region are VERY DANGEROUS. Do NOT drive. TAKE SHELTER immediately,' the warning said.

Some of the worst-hit areas included Esk, Toogoolawah, Mt Mee and Biarra, where giant hailstones was reported.

Heavy winds and over 100,000 lightning knocked down power lines in some areas leaving about 11,000 homes without power. 

Energex is currently working to restore the power grid, along with State Emergency Serves. 

© Provided by Daily MailGiant hail the size of golf balls pelted over Toowoomba on Tuesday (pictured) as severe storms lash south-Queensland and north-east New South Wales

© Provided by Daily MailMore hail is expected to strike from Wide Bay down to Bundaberg. Pictured: A Toowoomba back

The Queensland SES received more than 180 requests for assistance during the severe storms. 

Leaky roofs and fallen trees in the Greater Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas made up the bulk of the callouts.

BoM forecaster Jake Phillips said the weather event was uncommon for this time in Autumn.  

'It's due to the combination of having a relatively significant amount of humidity around for this time of year, and also a very powerful upper level system moving through,' he said.

While the dangerous weather conditions have subsided, a cold snap is now expected to roll in across Australia's east coast, bringing cool, dry conditions to NSW and Queensland this weekend. 

© Provided by Daily MailPictured: A pedestrian tries to shelter from the rain in Sydney after heavy rain lashed the east coast of Australia last week

© Provided by Daily MailThe Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Wednesday that thunderstorms are possible across the entire east coast of Australia