Floods Force Evacuations in Eastern Australia as Waters Rise

Photo : EPA

Heavy rain and fast-moving floods hit northeastern Australia, causing a lot of damage. In Queensland, more than a meter (39 inches) of rain fell in just two days. This flooded homes, businesses, and roads, forcing many people to leave their homes. A key bridge was washed away, cutting off an important road, the Bruce Highway.

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Aerial pictures showed small towns surrounded by water, and people couldn’t get in or out. The local government said the rain and storms would keep moving across the area. Premier David Crisafulli said the area was ready for more rain and possible floods in rivers and streets. Emergency teams rescued 11 people from the water overnight.

Townsville, a city near the Great Barrier Reef, had many areas that were too dangerous to stay in. Authorities told 2,100 people to leave, but about 10% of them stayed. A sad event happened in Ingham, a town near Townsville, when a woman in her 60s died after the boat she was in flipped over in the floods.

Nearly 11,000 homes were left without power, and it is unclear when the electricity will come back. The rain is expected to last another 24 hours, with some places getting another 12 inches of rain.

Townsville's mayor, Ann-Maree Greaney, said they were working to restore power and bring food to residents. She also warned people to be careful of crocodiles that might move around looking for safer water. One farmer saw crocodiles on his land, and he even took a picture of one by his car’s headlights.

The floods are making people worried about the effects of climate change. Experts say extreme weather, like heatwaves and heavy storms, will become more common. Queensland has already had serious floods in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and this latest event has caused even more trouble for the state.