Worst storm in a decade hits Brisbane, Australia: Six jaw-dropping photos

Friday, November 28, 2014, 7:35 PM - A major storm that seemed to come out of nowhere hit Brisbane, Australia Thursday -- cutting power to thousands, flipping airplanes and injuring dozens.

Officials are calling it the worst storm to hit the area in a decade.

The army has been called in to help cleaned up after a supercell formed off a typical storm cell, creating a dangerous vortex that packed winds up to 140 kilometres per hour.

Tennis ball-sized hail smashed car windows and brought down power lines. At one point, about 90,000 people were in the dark.

Twelve people were taken to hospital. No life-threatening injuries linked to the storm have been reported.

RELATED: Five photos: Huge hail

“It was all of a sudden, no time to evacuate, no warning,” University of Queensland student Malena Salinas told Guardian Australia.

“I just feel so bad for [unit] five. They’re students. Everything was destroyed.”

A preliminary assessment has predicted damage costs will total $100 million AUS ($97 million CAD).

PHOTOS: MAJOR STORM IN AUSTRALIA: