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Ex-cyclone Debbie to hit south-east Queensland with flash flooding expected – live Ex-cyclone Debbie: about 50 people trapped by floods around Mackay – live
(35 minutes later)
12.50am BST
00:50
Hermione Gardiner is on Daydream Island, which has been hit hard by the cyclone. It’s expected evacuations will begin today. Last night Gardiner described the current situation.
Daydream is pretty ruined, not sure they’ll be having guests here for a while! We are getting very sparse updates so we don’t really know what is going on.
Since the cyclone passed drinking water is on rations (one bottle at a time), power is out in most areas of the hotel, as is running water so no toilets showers for the most part.
They have the central Atrium with power and are manually cleaning/filling toilets. They are serving food at meal times with what they have available.
The atmosphere is calm despite from the destruction around us most people are just getting very anxious as nobody knows when we will get out of here. Jetties are gone and waterways are closed, rumours of navy boats and helicopters coming for rescue and us being a priority but right now nothing concrete at all and as great as the staff are they don’t know anything either.
It’s looking like spending another night here tonight in damp smelly rooms with no real facilities. Trying to stay positive. Very ready to be home now.
12.38am BST
00:38
The first evacuation flights are reportedly leaving Hamilton Island today, and the ADF is also expected to get to Daydream, where hundreds of people are stranded.
HMAS Choules has left Brisbane after loading stores to support communities affected by #CycloneDebbie #AusNavy #tcdebbie #ausarmy pic.twitter.com/PNZX2x2Au4
Updated
at 12.47am BST
12.37am BST
00:37
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have arrived in north Queensland to inspect the cyclone-affected area. They’ve said they are on a “unity ticket”.
“This is an example of nature flinging her worst at Australians,” Turnbull said.
“The whole nation gets behind them and supports them … 1,300 ADF men and women are working here now. This is the largest pre-deployment of an Australian defence force in advance of a natural disaster in history.”
Shorten said: “We congratulate the strength of the local community. Australia should realise the storm may have passed but the work has just begun.”
He has also pledged that both sides of parliament will make sure insurance claims are properly dealt with by insurance companies.
He urged people to support the region by considering holidaying there once it had recovered.
Updated
at 12.47am BST
12.26am BST
00:26
Rescues under way in north Queensland
Authorities are trying to rescue about 50 people trapped by floodwaters in and around cyclone-battered Mackay.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, says rescue efforts are under way to reach 11 people near Eton, in the Pioneer Valley, south-west of the city.
About 40 people are also awaiting rescue in the Homebush area, just outside Mackay, with swift-water crews working to move them from the West leagues club.
There were 38 water rescues overnight.
Updated
at 12.31am BST
12.20am BST12.20am BST
00:2000:20
It was “good news” that Queensland had just had a long, hot, dry Summer, because the dams are not too full as these floods hit, minister Mark Bailey has said. It’s “good news” that Queensland has just had a long, hot, dry summer, because the dams are not too full as these floods hit, according to the Queensland minister Mark Bailey.
Northpine dam was about 58% capacity, and Wivenhoe at 68%. Northpine dam was about 58% capacity, and Wivenhoe at 68%. “This is not comparable to the 2011 situation, let’s be clear about this,” Bailey said.
“This is not comparable to the 2011 situation, let’s be clear about this,” he said. But “predictions were one thing”, he said, and authorities were watching the amount and location of rainfall and flood levels closely. There was a chance there would be some releases from those two dams on Friday or Saturday, but that would depend on the inflows.
However “predictions were one thing” and they were watching the amount and location of rainfall and flood levels closely. There was a chance there would be some releases from those two dams on Friday or Saturday, but that would depend on the inflows. Updated
at 12.29am BST
12.16am BST12.16am BST
00:1600:16
This is the most recent round up of flood warnings for Lower Brisbane and Bremer Rivers. This is the latest round-up of flood warnings for Lower Brisbane and Bremer rivers.
Initial flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warill creeks https://t.co/Nmq6iPby5o #bigwet #QLD pic.twitter.com/4E2XWbwqVkInitial flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warill creeks https://t.co/Nmq6iPby5o #bigwet #QLD pic.twitter.com/4E2XWbwqVk
Updated
at 12.26am BST
12.12am BST12.12am BST
00:1200:12
“One of the things that concerns me about this system is it is very much in the southeast an intensifying system...Winds are going to pick up” says police commissioner Ian Stewart. “One of the things that concerns me about this system, is it is very much in the south-east an intensifying system … winds are going to pick up” said Queensland’s police commissioner, Ian Stewart.
“This is a very large system and it’s starting to move quite quickly.”“This is a very large system and it’s starting to move quite quickly.”
Stewart asked people to make preparations to self-evacuate from low lying areas. Stewart asked people to make preparations to self-evacuate from low-lying areas.
“We’re hoping by tomorrow it’ll be gone and out to see but between now and then...if your area normally floods in these sort of circumstances go and stay with relatives somewhere else. Go and stay with family and get out now. We can always replace your home. We can’t replace you.” “We’re hoping by tomorrow it’ll be gone and out to sea but between now and then … if your area normally floods in these sort of circumstances go and stay with relatives somewhere else. Go and stay with family and get out now. We can always replace your home. We can’t replace you.”
Updated
at 12.26am BST
12.07am BST12.07am BST
00:0700:07
Good morning, this is Helen Davidson here to continue our coverage of the aftermath of cyclone Debbie and the heavy rains and flooding now affecting large parts of Queensland.Good morning, this is Helen Davidson here to continue our coverage of the aftermath of cyclone Debbie and the heavy rains and flooding now affecting large parts of Queensland.
All schools in south-east Queensland - more than 600 - are closed today as the weather continues to deteriorate in the area. All schools in south-east Queensland – more than 600 – are closed today as the weather continues to deteriorate in the area.
Deputy QLD premier Jackie Trad has told people who are already on their way to school to continue on their journey, where staff will arrange for them to be picked up by parents. The state’s deputy premier, Jackie Trad, has told children who are on their way to school to continue on their journey, where staff will arrange for them to be picked up by parents. Public transport will be free from 10am to help people get home.
Public transport will be free from 10am to help people get home.
Businesses have been asked to close by midday.Businesses have been asked to close by midday.
A severe weather warning has been cancelled for central Queensland but flood warnings are still current. A severe weather warning has been cancelled for central Queensland but flood warnings are still current. The warning now extends from just south of Rockhampton to the New South Wales border.
The warning now extends from just south of Rockhampton to the NSW border. About 150mm to 250mm of rain is expected. Parts of the Gold Coast hinterland have already received 250mm, a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology has said.
About 150-250mm of rain per day is expected. Parts of the Gold Coast hinterland have already received 250mm, a spokesman for the bureau of meteorology has said. Updated
at 12.25am BST