Severe flooding has forced evacuations in eastern Australia after fast-moving floodwaters rose overnight, forcing many to flee their homes, blacking out buildings, and sweeping away a chunk of a critical bridge. The heavy rain dumped over 2 meters (79 inches) in just two days in parts of Queensland, engulfing homes, businesses, and roads in muddy waters.
The state’s premier, David Crisafulli, warned that widespread rain and storms were expected to spread across northern Queensland, leading to more flooding and the potential for flash floods. Emergency services carried out 11 “swift water rescues” overnight, as areas of flood-hit Townsville were declared a “black zone.” Authorities told 2,100 people in the town to evacuate at the weekend, but about 10% refused.
One woman was killed when her rescue boat flipped over in the floodwaters. The floods also swept away a section of a concrete bridge, cutting off the state’s main coastal road, the Bruce Highway. Almost 11,000 properties remain without power across north Queensland, with no timeline given for restoration.
Climate experts warn that extreme weather events will become more frequent and intense due to rising global temperatures. Queensland is Australia’s most disaster-prone state, having experienced major floods in recent years.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/rising-floodwaters-force-evacuations-eastern-023207458.html