One life has been lost, and hundreds of homes are under water in Far North Queensland, where floodwaters have reached their devastating peak.
Key Points
- One person has tragically died, and 10,000 homes have lost power.
- Since Saturday, a month’s worth of rain has fallen, with up to 1,200mm in some regions.
- As of noon on Tuesday, some floodwaters were easing, and some residents had begun to return home.
Since Saturday, torrential rainfall has overwhelmed northern regions and as of this morning, 10,000 homes were without power.
“It’s a disaster that’s going to test the resolve of people,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
“The level of devastation is just incredible.”
Month of rain
Since the low-pressure system settled in the north on Saturday, a month’s worth of rain has fallen in a few days. Some regions saw 1,200mm of rainfall.
“This is a significant and protracted weather event that we’re seeing with record breaking rainfall in many locations,” Matthew Collopy, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), said.
“So, it will take days for that water to come out of those systems.”
Tragic loss
On Sunday, one woman drowned in floodwaters in Ingham.
“There has been a loss of a life in floodwaters in Ingham,” Premier Crisafulli confirmed.
“That’s a really tight-knit community, our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
The woman was reportedly on board an SES rescue boat that capsized.
“I can confirm that the SES were responding to a rescue this morning when this has taken place,” Qld Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said.
“It’s not too late”
The impacted areas of the floods stretch from Cairns to Mackay, with Townsville, Ingham and Cardwell amongst the hardest hit.
Emergency services received 480 requests for assistance overnight.
Residents in some regions were urged to evacuate, and more than 400 people have taken shelter in six evacuation centres.
Since Saturday, a month’s worth of rain has fallen, with up to 1,200mm in some regions.
In the build-up to the floodwaters reaching a peak this morning, authorities warned residents to be prepared.
“It’s not too late to still plan, decide what you are going to do in the event that your house is inundated, where are you going to go?” Townsville councillor Andrew Robinson said.
Ingham business owner Travis Cauchi told the ABC that Sunday, which saw 456mm of rainfall, was “one of Ingham’s scariest nights”.
“There are people who have been inundated at home at their businesses and in their farms and we are here to see that through,” Premier Crisafulli said.
No power
This morning, 10,000 homes in the region were without power, with 7,000 of those in Ingham.
Premier Crisafulli said he was working on getting generators to the town to provide much-needed electricity.
“Then we need to make sure that substation gets back online,” he said.
Conditions easing
As of noon on Tuesday, some floodwaters were easing, and some residents had begun to return home.
“I’m just looking at the mess and keen to get in and start cleaning up,” a resident told the ABC of returning to his home in Ingham.
As of noon on Tuesday, some floodwaters were easing, and some residents had begun to return home.
“Yesterday there was a lot of panic. A lot of people unsure and trying to get to higher ground.”
Luke Shelley, BOM’s manager of hazard preparedness and response in the region, says they are seeing a general easing in conditions.
“The widespread rainfall that is leading to life-threatening and evacuations is now much more unlikely,” he said.
Active warnings
Meanwhile, there are still major flood warnings for the Herbert and Upper Burdekin River.
“Any additional rainfall over the coming days is likely to keep that steady, but not likely to exacerbate the situation,” Mr Shelley said.
“We will certainly see those warnings in place for the days to come.”
Premier Crisafulli pledged to not return home until he had surveyed the devastated regions.
“I won’t be going back to Brisbane until I’ve had the chance to be on the ground in places like Ingham and Cardwell,” he said.
“I want this community to know we will keep coming back until the job is done.”
Stay up to date with warnings here.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro
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