Residents in North Queensland are being told to move to higher ground on what is expected to be the worst day of a catastrophic flood disaster displacing thousands of people.
In recent days Northern Queensland has been battered by the downpour – with more than a metre of rain falling in parts of the state in the space of just four days.
Rivers and creeks are bursting their banks and dams are overflowing as a massive monsoonal deluge that’s dumped more than the annual rainfall in a week continues.
It’s causing flash flooding and land slips in a disaster area that stretches 700km from Cairns to Mackay.
More massive falls are expected on Saturday in disaster-declared Townsville, which is at the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event, with some areas expecting 400mm over the weekend.
Striking images showed roads and houses totally submerged by heavy flooding while 100 soldiers were called in to help stricken residents prepare for the worst
Residents in North Queensland are being told to move to higher ground on what is expected to be the worst day of a catastrophic flood disaster
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned communities in North Queensland the heavy rainfall and flooding could last well into next week
Queensland residents have been urged to seek safety as authorities are forced to open dam doors (pictured) even further as the state battles a one-in-100 year monsoon
More than 400 army personnel have been called into the area, helping locals with sandbagging and keeping them calm.
Authorities have provided more than 36,000 sandbags throughout the area, with Council crews filling 10,000 of them as the flooding intensifies.
‘This is not a one-in-20-year-situation – it is a one-in-100 year event. Please take care on the roads there could be flash flooding. And if it’s flooded – forget about it,’ Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
Ms Palaszczuk said the next 24 to 48 hours ‘are crucial’, as she urged people in the area to heed warnings.
The Premier said the situation was ‘unprecedented and uncharted’ and ensured locals to listen to authorities and not panic.
Bruce Gunn from Bureau of Meteorology expects the peak in the rainfall to recur on Saturday night and continue into next week.
‘There’s several more days to go in this flood event,’ he said.
More than one hundred homes near the Ross River are expected to be deliberately flooded as the spillway gates were opened to ease pressure.
More massive falls are expected on Saturday in disaster-declared Townsville, which is at the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event
Rivers and creeks are bursting their banks and dams are overflowing as a massive monsoonal deluge that’s dumped more than the annual rainfall in a week continues
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Jenny Hill said the decision to open the spillway gates further was not taken lightly (pictured: flooding in Townsville)
More than 400 army personnel have been called into the area, helping locals with sandbagging and keeping them calm
Late Friday night, the city’s mayor made the ‘difficult’ decision to open them further, meaning homes within the catchment of the Ross River dam faced flooding in order to prevent an even greater catastrophe downstream.
The dam was at 200 per cent capacity by Saturday morning – while authorities went door to door telling people they should leave at-risk homes. There are no suggestions the dam cannot hold the volumes.
Dozens of homes have been swamped since the flooding began with schools and businesses shut, thousands displaced and evacuation centres opened.
State Disaster Coordinator Bob Gee urged people to seek safe places and said there were more than enough police out there checking people’s abandoned property.
On Saturday morning, people in eight areas had been texted with warnings to urgently move to higher ground.
These include Bohle River, Saunders Creek and Stoney Creek – including the suburbs Deeragun, Jensen and Burdell – Black River, Blue Water, Beach Holm, Yabulu and Toolakea.
Dozens of homes have been swamped since the flooding began with schools and businesses shut, thousands displaced and evacuation centres opened
The Heatley Secondary College is operational as an evacuation centre for those who need safety
Further north, coastal communities on the Gulf of Carpentaria have been told to prepare for the highest tides of year as the monsoon trough whips up gale force winds.
QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there’s been 38 rescues over the last few days as teams successfully cleared 80 people from their homes overnight.
‘That’s ranging from rescuing people caught in flash flooding, minor flooding and major flooding, caught on roofs, you name it,’ Ms Carroll said.
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Jenny Hill said the decision to open the spillway gates further was not taken lightly.
‘The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG) has analysed expert advice and the decision to open the spillway gates will help protect more homes from flooding given this heavy monsoonal rain continues,’ Councillor Hill said.
She said the decision would affect some residents but would save others.
Police have urged those in affected areas to reconsider unnecessary travel over the weekend
Queensland police have reminded residents that flood water (pictured) is dirty and full of hazards lurking under the surface
Authorities have provided more than 36,000 sandbags throughout the area, with Council crews filling 10,000 of them as the flooding intensifies
‘We are making a tough decision that will impact on some residents but it will help to protect many more homes in the affected suburbs,’ Cr Hill said.
‘The TLDMG is totally focused on ensuring the appropriate response to this huge rain event affecting our community.’
Councillor Hill urged residents to consider leaving their homes if worried about safety.
‘The Heatley Secondary College is operational as an evacuation centre for anyone needing a safe place to stay,’ she said.
‘It’s really important that residents use common sense and listen to emergency services or Council employees if they are in a flood-affected area.
An emergency alert for residents in Cluden, Rosslea, Hermit Park, Oonoonba, Idalia and Railway Estate has been issued by QFES amid the conditions
Forecasters said at the beginning of the day another 200mm of rain could be dumped over the region on each of the next few days
Residents in the Rosslea, Railway Estate, South Townsville, Idalia and Oonoonba areas have been warned their properties could be flooded as a result
An emergency alert for residents in Cluden, Rosslea, Hermit Park, Oonoonba, Idalia and Railway Estate has been issued by QFES amid the conditions.
‘If residents are concerned about their safety they are strongly urged to evacuate immediately, by the safest route possible,’ QFES said.
Townsville Police District acting chief superintendent Steve Munro and Ms Palaszczuk have both said they were behind the decision to release water from the dam.
‘We’re very comfortable with the decision they have taken and of course by opening up the gates it’ll let a substantial amount of water out,’ Ms Palaszczuk said at a conference.
‘Can I just urge all Townsville residents there just to make sure that they are following all those emergency alerts.’
QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there’s been 38 rescues over the last few days as teams successfully cleared 80 people from their homes overnight
Police spent Thursday night searching around Giru for a 32-year-old man last seen on foot near Black Gully about 5pm on Thursday
Supermarkets have taken a hit amid the panic and stocks have slowly dwindled over the day