Home Globe Tragic flooding in Queensland leads to death and widespread evacuations

Tragic flooding in Queensland leads to death and widespread evacuations

by editor

In a devastating turn of events, a woman has lost her life in Queensland, Australia, as relentless rainfall has triggered extensive flooding in the northern part of the state. This weather crisis has forced thousands to evacuate their residences, with authorities raising alarms about the potentially perilous situation.

Severe weather conditions and rising floodwaters

Officials are cautioning that floodwaters might escalate to heights reaching the second storey of buildings, designating the current circumstances as both dangerous and life-threatening. Over the last 24 hours, certain areas in North Queensland have recorded more than 700mm (26 inches) of rain, with fears of “record rainfalls” persisting into Monday, as stated by Queensland State Premier David Crisafulli.

Record-breaking impacts and rescue efforts

Meteorologists suggest that these floods could represent the most severe the region has seen in over six decades. Crisafulli highlighted the extraordinary nature of the conditions, stating, “It’s not just the intensity, but it’s also the longevity of it,” during an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC.

As a precaution, residents in the city of Townsville were instructed to evacuate their homes by midday on Sunday. In response to the crisis, authorities have deployed approximately 100,000 sandbags to mitigate the encroaching floodwaters. However, the situation is complicated by the closure of parts of the roadway connecting Townsville with the tourist hub of Cairns, impeding rescue operations and the delivery of essential supplies.

“It’s not just the intensity, but it’s also the longevity of it,”

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