SYDNEY, Feb 6, (Xinhua): A man has been hospitalized after being shot in the head with a homemade weapon in eastern Australia on Thursday. Police in Australia's state of Queensland on Thursday made an emergency declaration after being called to reports of a shooting at a property in the Tallebudgera Valley, about 80 km south of Brisbane on Australia's east coast, at midday local time on Thursday.

A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his shoulder and head and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Queensland Police Chief Inspector Les Bulluss told reporters that a homemade shotgun was fired during an argument between two men at the remote property. "It's a handmade shotgun. It's very well made and it's something that's quite concerning," he said.

"The weapon's made out of piping." Police have established a crime scene and deployed specialist officers and a helicopter to the property to search for the suspected shooter. Residents of the area have been advised to stay indoors and members of the public asked to avoid a police exclusion zone.