(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />Heavy rain triggered flash floods across townships on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Brisbane on Thursday (March 22).<br/> <br />The local weather service described it as a once-in-a-century deluge.<br/> <br />Torrents of water in Maroochydore up to a metre (3.3 feet) high swept through streets, tossing cars and inundating stores.<br/> <br />Emergency services received more than 600 calls for help, and reported 200 homes were flooded.<br/> <br />Flood waters engulfed shops and restaurants in the tourist area normally known for its sunny beaches.<br/> <br />"It's completely flooded. Up to the tables, pretty much," said one woman as she helped to clear water from a restaurant using buckets.<br/> <br />Many cars were stranded, stalling in flooded streets.<br/> <br />"Cars didn't know where to go. There are still some cars stuck down the back, there," said a local resident.<br/> <br />"We've never seen anything like this before," said another resident.<br/> <br />Schools in the area were closed and children in a daycare centre were evacuated.<br/> <br />A local supermarket said that much of its stock and computer systems were destroyed as the metre-high water flooded the building.<br/> <br />The death of an elderly man in a road accident was attributed to the floods, through authorities described it as "a miracle" that many more were not hurt.<br/> <br />The government of the state of Queensland has offered cash grants to people left without accommodation, food or clothing.
