BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- More than 43,000 homes and businesses were without electricity in flooding that has killed or left missing dozens of people in Australia, officials said.
Some Brisbane residents could be without power for weeks, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Officials said supplies should be available in the Brisbane suburbs of Jindalee, Moggill and River Hills by Saturday, but about 43,000 homes across southeast Queensland were unlikely to have power soon.
"Certainly heading up to the river towards Milton we've seen some houses that are still under water and they may not be connected to the grid for days if not weeks, until they're able to be tested and deemed safe," Energex spokesman Danny Donald said.
More bodies have been found as the cleanup progresses.
The discovery of a woman's body in the Lockyer Valley brings the death toll in the southeast to 16 and 53 others were missing. The body was found near Grantham, a town torn apart by a wall of water Monday.
"I hope and pray that Mother Nature is leaving us alone for us to get on with the job of cleaning up and recovering," Premier Anna Bligh said.
Flood-affected Brisbane residents and business were eligible for $100 payments and rebates to assist in the clean-up efforts.
