Australia Plan For Destruction Amid Deadly Floods

Australian authorities has warned flood-stricken communities to plan themselves for further destruction as deadly floodwaters caused by record rainfall in Australia’s northeast rose for a third day.

One person drowned in the flooding on Sunday and thousands of residents in low-lying coastal suburbs and towns are under immediate evacuation orders after nearly a summer’s worth of rain fell on large parts of North Queensland in just a few days.

Impacted areas are dotted along the 735-kilometer (456 mile) stretch of the Queensland coast from Cairns – a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – to Mackay, with the city of Townsville, Ingham town, and Cardwell among the worst hit by flash floods and overflowing rivers.

“To see the level of devastation in that community is very difficult,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said of Ingham on Monday, adding that homes, businesses and the agricultural sector have been badly damaged.

“That is a very strong and resilient community, but this is a flood the likes of which is only seen a handful of times,” he said.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology extended a severe weather warning on Monday for large parts of the coast, saying “severe thunderstorms with heavy to intense rainfall are possible today.”

Some areas have seen up to a meter of rainfall in the past week, and major flood warnings have been issued for areas along six rivers that are running well above flood levels.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the death “heartbreaking news,” in a post on X. “My thoughts are with the family and the entire community at this awful time,” he said, adding that the federal government “will supply whatever resources are required to deal with this event.”

Meanwhile, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation has warned residents to be wary of crocodiles that could be lurking in the floodwaters, according to Nine News.

“During flooding crocodiles can turn up in places they haven’t been seen before as they move about in search of calmer waters,” the department said in a statement. “Expect crocodiles in all north and far north Queensland waterways even if there is no warning sign.”

Calls For Help

State Disaster Coordinator Chelepy said Monday that officials had received 480 calls for assistance overnight – the most reported in recent days – as well as multiple emergency alerts and reports of flash flooding.

Response teams made 11 swift water rescues of people stranded in their homes or trapped in vehicles from the rising waters, Chelepy said.

“Take precautions, prepare for the worst, listen to the advice. This is a serious event,” he said.

An emergency alert was issued Sunday for the small coastal community of Bluewater, north of Townsville, with local disaster-response officials telling residents “your life may be at risk.”

CNN/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma