Australia: Ex-Cyclone Debbie forces mass closure of Queensland schools

Cars sit in flood waters outside the Robina Hospital on the Gold Coast, Queensland

All schools in south-east Queensland, Australia, have been closed due to flooding caused by ex-Cyclone Debbie.

The storm hit the state's most populous region on Thursday after pummelling the north-east coast for two days.

Although no longer a cyclone, the storm has lashed Queensland's capital Brisbane with 200mm of rain in two hours - more than its monthly average.

No injuries have been reported, but authorities closed more than 1,000 schools and urged people to stay home.

"We have not seen the worst of this weather system in the south-east," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Every school in an almost 600km (370 miles) area stretching from Agnes Water to Coolangatta will remain closed until at least Monday, she said.

Australia's prime minister visit a cyclone-damaged area in a helicopter

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the "unprecedented late call" was made after some children were already at school.

"We can't afford to have inexperienced young kids walking home from school at a time where there could be flash-flooding," he said.

More than 1,200 childcare centres were also closed, according to a government website.

Authorities pleaded with people to stay off roads and close shops, saying dozens of people had been rescued from floodwaters.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was "extraordinary" there had not been more injuries, criticising one person seen on a jet ski.

"What our worst fears are is that people do silly things like this, and this is when the tragedy will occur," she told the local Nine Network.

"Please keep your children away from drains [and] stay in your house."