Hundreds of north Queensland residents have fled their homes as suburbs and towns are inundated by rising flood waters, with authorities warning a near-record deluge could become more severe than “once in a lifetime” storms five years ago.
A woman was killed on Sunday morning during an attempted rescue from flood waters at Ingham north of Townsville.
Guardian Australia understands a rescue boat – carrying five Ingham locals and two State Emergency Service volunteers – hit a tree and capsized. The woman, a resident, was unable to be rescued.
Residents in low-lying parts of Townsville were ordered to leave their homes by midday amid concerns that flood waters could reach “second-storey level” as heavy rainfall continues to batter north Queensland.
Authorities declared a “black zone” covering six Townsville suburbs near the Ross River: Railway Estate, Hermit Park and Rosslea on the northern bank and Idalia, Cluden and Oonoonba to the south.
Most of the concern was due to predictions of severe heavy rainfall on Sunday, including the potential for 300mm in less than six hours. Downpours had been consistent for days and the Ross River dam above the city was already at 142% of its normal capacity.
On Sunday afternoon, authorities ordered the evacuation of Bluewater, a small seaside community north of Townsville.
At nearby Rollingstone, the Bureau of Meteorology recorded almost a metre of rain – 999mm – from 9am Friday to 9am Sunday.
On Sunday, river levels at Ingham were predicted to reach the record set during floods in 1967.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning, the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said about 170 crews had been door-knocking in Townsville, urging people to prepare.
“I am asking people to heed this,” Crisafulli said. “Your safety is more important than anything else.
“Some of the falls that we saw overnight in different parts were, quite frankly, at incredible levels. One suburb got 620mm in the 20 hours to 6am. That is over 0.5 metres of water in less than a day. That should give you a perspective of how big it is.”
The same areas were severely inundated during flooding in February 2019. In some places flood waters reached 2 metres high, and many people, particularly in Hermit Park, attempted to wait out the emergency in raised Queenslander-style houses.
The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group said flood waters could go higher this time.
“Flooding to second-storey floors is possible. Single-storey buildings could be fully flooded. It may become too dangerous for emergency services to rescue you,” the group said in a statement.
“Go now to a safe place away from flood-affected areas, ideally at a friend or family’s home. Lock windows and doors before you leave home.”
The chair of the disaster management group, Andrew Robinson, said on Sunday that some residents had chosen to stay behind.
“The majority [have] evacuated. Some were long-term residents who had gone through the 2019 floods and had elected to stay,” Robinson said.
“I would ask them to reconsider. They’re going to be without power. Consider your safety first. If you’re in the black zone get out now, it’s as simple as that.”
after newsletter promotion
Crisafulli said he had heard “some comparisons” made by people to the 2019 floods but warned residents they should not be complacent in the belief that event – the worst in 120 years – could not be repeated.
“There is more rain to come,” he said. “Take those precautions, prepare for the worst.”
Authorities as a precaution took the electricity substation at Ingham offline, which Crisafulli said would hinder support efforts.
Authorities also issued an emergency warning for Cardwell, north of Townsville. They said flooding was already occurring in low-lying areas of the township and could spread.
“Residents in low-lying areas should collect their evacuation kit and move to a safe place on higher ground. This situation may pose a threat to life and property,” an emergency alert said.
An alert was issued for the Hinchinbrook shire but people there were advised to stay in place for the time being.
“Get up as high as you can where you are. There is dangerous flooding,” the alert said.
Cyclonic-like rain totals have lashed Townsville and surrounding areas, with some places receiving more than 600mm over the past 24 hours.
The fallsfollowed isolated seven-day totals of more than 900mm which hammered the north tropical coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the weekend rainfall could lead to flooded homes, businesses and properties; landslides and further road closures.
“We’ve seen torrential rainfall continue across the Herbert and lower Burdekin and parts of north tropical coast, with widespread falls of 200mm to 300mm, with isolated falls in excess of that,” the senior meteorologist, Dean Narramore, said.
“We could even be talking about places in excess of 1 metre over the next few days. That is an incredible amount of rainfall.”
Authorities deployed further resources to the state’s north, with the Australian Defence Force assisting on the ground.
Article by:Source: Ben Smee
