Torrential rains hit Australia state

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Torrential rains caused flooding and left thousands of homes without power across the southeast of Australia's tropical Queensland state, just days after cyclonic storms lashed the region.

One woman was missing after storms dumped 250 millimetres (9.8 inches) of rain over the state capital Brisbane and nearby cities in six hours, prompting authorities to evacuate homes as police warned of flash floods and possible landslides.

"Last night I activated the disaster management act which gives very extensive powers of evacuation to deal with public safety," Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts told state radio.

The floods in some areas were the worst since 1974, Ipswich city Mayor Paul Pisasle said. At least 14 people were rescued after attempting to drive through fast-rising waters.

Cyclone-like storms ripped across the same area on Sunday night, killing one man, destroying houses and leaving more than 230,000 homes and businesses without electricity, and prompting the national and state governments to declare an emergency.

Energy company Energex said it was working to restore power to about 6,000 customers from Brisbane to the nearby tourist havens of the Gold Coast, with troops and emergency services workers still cleaning up in the area after the last storm.

Roads had been closed to the public to allow emergency vehicles better access, police said, while other roads and major highways had been cut by flooding.

Australian weather bureau Senior Forecaster Geoff Doueal said more rain was expected in coming days after widespread falls deluged much of eastern Australia, including drought-stricken crop areas in Queensland and adjacent New South Wales state.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor, editing by James Thornhill)