Isolated road in the Australian outback turns into an inland sea – with locals forced to use their boats to get around during the worst flooding in history
- Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding areas in WA’s Kimberley region are flooded
- The record-breaking deluge has been caused by downpour from Cyclone Ellie
- WA has declared an emergency situation and advised residents to evacuate
Outback towns have experienced their worst flooding in history due to downpours from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie – as the government issues an emergency warning.
The deluge has inundated Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas in the Kimberley in Western Australia.
Cyclone Ellie has brought continuous rainfall that’s lifted the Fitzroy River to its highest level ever, resulting in homes being flooded, roads being turned into rivers and residents forced to use boats to get around.
The Fitzroy River was still rising on Wednesday morning before a possible peak of 15.7 metres.
Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has experienced its worst flooding on record
The deluge has been caused by continuous rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie
WA’s Minister for Emergency Services Stephen Dawson declared an Emergency Situation and advised residents in flood-affected areas to evacuate immediately.
‘This is a dangerous and fast-changing situation,’ Mr Dawson told reporters on Tuesday.
‘We have not seen rain like this for at least a hundred years so it’s kind of shocking to see the water as high as it is.’
He added that ‘Emergency services have completed a number of flood rescues for people in Fitzroy Crossing’.
Mr Dawson said there had been 18 calls for assistance from people in flood-affected areas.
‘This is a dangerous and fast-changing situation and more rain is expected over the next few days,’ he said.
The Western Australian government has declared an emergency situation and warned residents to evacuate immediately
The state’s minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson, revealed there had been 18 calls for assistance from people in flood-affected areas
Downstream at Noonkanbah, major flooding was also likely. The Fitzroy River there was at 12.15m and rising on Wednesday morning.
Travellers in Derby have been warned to leave the area and go to Broome.
Defence personnel have been called in to help evacuate residents who are isolated.
Federal Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt said the Albanese government approved a WA request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas.
Defence force personnel have been called in to help evacuate residents who are isolated after the federal government approved a WA request
Residents in the town of Derby and the communities of Willare and Noonkanbah have been advised to evacuate due to flooding
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement that they were also ‘bringing in more aircraft’ to help with evacuation and re-supply efforts.
Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm warned residents in the communities of Willare and Noonkanbah on Tuesday to get to higher ground as they would be flooded in the next 24 to 48 hours.
He said roads had been cut and it was too late to leave as the region faced ‘at least a one-in-100-year’ flood event.
Rain from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie has dumped between 200mm and 600mm since Saturday and is predicted to deliver further widespread heavy falls into the week.
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