Brisbane's specialist burns unit could end up treating 10 patients caught up in a far north Queensland gas bottle explosion that has left seven people fighting for their lives.
Twenty people were injured when the 60-year-old driver of a four-wheel-drive lost control and ploughed into gas cylinders during Tuesday's lunchtime rush at the Serves You Right Cafe at Ravenshoe, southwest of Cairns.
Three critical care patients - a 59-year-old woman, 56-year-old man and 37-year-old woman - had already arrived at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, with four more expected.
Investigations are continuing into whether a driver of the four-wheel-drive utility was suffering from a medical condition.
Queensland Health has said the blast triggered the largest air evacuation of burns patients in Queensland in memory.
The man overseeing the critical patients' care, RBWH adult burns unit director Dr Michael Rudd, said the injuries were severe.
"This is probably about the same size as the Bali bombings and the Ashmore Reef disaster in terms of the number of patients that we're actually receiving here in Brisbane," he said.
Police say initial investigations suggest the driver lost control and travelled a considerable distance before hitting trees, crashing through a fence and into the rear of the cafe where the cylinders were located.
"Officers are continuing to investigate whether the man suffered a medical condition prior to the crash," a police statement said.
Police said the driver and at least six others were on Wednesday afternoon in a critical condition in hospitals across the state.
The other patients, who range from 15 to 82, remain in Cairns, Atherton, Innisfail and Townsville Hospitals.
"This will be the largest aeromedical movement of burns patients in Queensland in memory," a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said the condition of the patients was continually changing and they may need to be moved to different hospitals at any time depending on their progress.
One of the critical patients, the 37-year-old woman, is the daughter of the cafe's owners - who now face a heartbreaking return from a European holiday.
"The guy and his wife who own the cafe - who are lovely, lovely people - are having a well-earned rest in Europe," friend Jane Rodwell told the ABC.
"I guess they'll be coming home because it's their daughter."
Another two of the victims were firefighters who were having lunch when the blast happened.
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