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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/mar/30/ex-cyclone-debbie-to-hit-south-east-queensland-with-flash-flooding-expected-live
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| Ex-cyclone Debbie: scores rescued from floodwaters around Mackay – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.18am BST | |
| 04:18 | |
| Guests stranded at the Daydream Island resort are expected to be evacuated via ferry to Hamilton Island or the Port of Airlie by 2pm local time. Hamilton Island airport is already struggling to accommodate thousands of guests wanting to get off the island, and is warning that not everyone will be able to leave today. | |
| 2 vessels evacuating all guests to either Hamilton Island or the Port of Airlie. Should be completed by 2pm today #TCDebbie #cyclonedebbie | |
| 4.07am BST | |
| 04:07 | |
| The heaviest of the rainfall is currently taking place in parts of Wide Bay, near Bundaberg, and areas south of Brisbane, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. | |
| The Gold Coast seaway observation station has recorded 105mm so far. | |
| Even the cows are seeking higher ground to try to stay out of the rain on the Gold Coast @abcgoldcoast @abcnews pic.twitter.com/DmWmPdPDDV | |
| 3.59am BST | |
| 03:59 | |
| Energy minister, Mark Bailey, has posted pictures of destroyed electricity towers across north Queensland. Ergon Energy is working to restore power to more than 60,000 homes in the region, but warns it will take time, and priority will be given to critical infrastructure like hospitals, sewage plants, and supermarkets. | |
| 10 NQ electricity towers folded like cardboard in #TCDebbie Pics just in from @powerlinkqld chopper doing damage assessments pic.twitter.com/3fNEWcgOwo | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.18am BST | |
| 3.53am BST | |
| 03:53 | |
| More images are emerging of the trail of destruction caused by Cyclone Debbie in the Whitsunday region. Here Helen Muller of Proserpine sits in the ruins of her double garage, which was built by her father. | |
| Debbie also ruined this factory in Proserpine. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.55am BST | |
| 3.43am BST | 3.43am BST |
| 03:43 | 03:43 |
| A rescue operation is under way at Tanawha, on the Sunshine Coast, where two adults and four children are trapped in a flooded home. We’ll bring you more on that as soon as it comes to hand. | |
| TANAWHA (Sunshine Coast): Swiftwater rescuers on scene where 2 adults & 4 kids are trapped in flooded home. Rescue underway. | TANAWHA (Sunshine Coast): Swiftwater rescuers on scene where 2 adults & 4 kids are trapped in flooded home. Rescue underway. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.54am BST | |
| 3.41am BST | 3.41am BST |
| 03:41 | 03:41 |
| Queensland’s Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, has spoken about the rescue of dozens of people trapped by floodwaters in towns around Mackay. | Queensland’s Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, has spoken about the rescue of dozens of people trapped by floodwaters in towns around Mackay. |
| “I was just briefed some 30 minutes ago that the rescue is completed for both Eton as well as Homebush,” she told the ABC. “We had about 20 to 30 people at Eton and 40 at Homebush. | |
| “Last night was certainly concerning for us for those two small towns. I’m very pleased with what the outcome is this morning.” | “Last night was certainly concerning for us for those two small towns. I’m very pleased with what the outcome is this morning.” |
| The weather was easing in Mackay, Carroll said, but movement was still “incredibly difficult”. | |
| “We’re pleased with how the water rescues have gone. But now we’re getting into the real recovery stage of assessing the damage to all of the houses.” | |
| Power is still off in the Whitsunday region but emergency services are reaching people trapped on islands. Carroll warned the power would be off for some time. | |
| Daydream Island’s water shortage was being addressed, she said. | Daydream Island’s water shortage was being addressed, she said. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.52am BST | |
| 3.35am BST | 3.35am BST |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| The Nerang river on the Gold Coast is flooded. The major M1 highway remains flooded at Mudgeeraba. The Gold Coast Bulletin has put together a full list of road closures here. | The Nerang river on the Gold Coast is flooded. The major M1 highway remains flooded at Mudgeeraba. The Gold Coast Bulletin has put together a full list of road closures here. |
| @abcgoldcoast Nerang River, Sorrento. Gold Coast. pic.twitter.com/MQ7IKiXl6j | @abcgoldcoast Nerang River, Sorrento. Gold Coast. pic.twitter.com/MQ7IKiXl6j |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.38am BST | at 3.38am BST |
| 3.26am BST | 3.26am BST |
| 03:26 | 03:26 |
| The RACQ has already received 252 insurance claims after Cyclone Debbie. | The RACQ has already received 252 insurance claims after Cyclone Debbie. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia declared Debbie a catastrophe on Tuesday. The damage bill is expected to be significant. It was the worst cyclone to hit the region since Yasi in 2011. That cyclone resulted in $1.4bn in insurance claims. | The Insurance Council of Australia declared Debbie a catastrophe on Tuesday. The damage bill is expected to be significant. It was the worst cyclone to hit the region since Yasi in 2011. That cyclone resulted in $1.4bn in insurance claims. |
| Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, yesterday urged insurance companies to treat residents with decency and respect. | Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, yesterday urged insurance companies to treat residents with decency and respect. |
| “There are going to be a lot of people who are upset, who have had their family homes damaged, and they need to have someone friendly on the other end of that phone call,” she said. | “There are going to be a lot of people who are upset, who have had their family homes damaged, and they need to have someone friendly on the other end of that phone call,” she said. |
| “These are people who have had their lives turned upside down. So I would hope that they do the right thing.” | “These are people who have had their lives turned upside down. So I would hope that they do the right thing.” |
| We've had 252 cyclone, flood & storm claims this wk. Visit https://t.co/4vLu6ItOSx if you need to to make a claim. #RACQ #BigWet #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/1cjhFUzd5V | We've had 252 cyclone, flood & storm claims this wk. Visit https://t.co/4vLu6ItOSx if you need to to make a claim. #RACQ #BigWet #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/1cjhFUzd5V |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.28am BST | at 3.28am BST |
| 3.17am BST | 3.17am BST |
| 03:17 | 03:17 |
| AAP is reporting waits of up to an hour for sandbags at some Brisbane SES depots. | AAP is reporting waits of up to an hour for sandbags at some Brisbane SES depots. |
| The waits are occurring despite thousands being pre-prepared. The city’s lord mayor, Graham Quirk, said the council had arranged for 500 tonnes of sand to be turned into 40,000 sandbags this week and crews are now adding to that at a rate of 4,000 an hour. The lord mayor arrived at Brisbane’s Newmarket SES depot to a line of cars waiting up to an hour for sandbags, as parts of the city experience flash flooding. | The waits are occurring despite thousands being pre-prepared. The city’s lord mayor, Graham Quirk, said the council had arranged for 500 tonnes of sand to be turned into 40,000 sandbags this week and crews are now adding to that at a rate of 4,000 an hour. The lord mayor arrived at Brisbane’s Newmarket SES depot to a line of cars waiting up to an hour for sandbags, as parts of the city experience flash flooding. |
| Quirk said authorities were mostly worried about creek systems flooding if there were intense bursts of rain, rather than sustained downfalls. | Quirk said authorities were mostly worried about creek systems flooding if there were intense bursts of rain, rather than sustained downfalls. |
| “I’d just ask people to be patient around that, if you do need sandbags, five depots are available,” he told reporters.“If you are concerned about river flooding, please do not be concerned, please do not come and collect sandbags if you were affected by river flooding in 2011, 2013.“If you are in a creek system, then absolutely if you feel the need to, come and get sandbags.” | “I’d just ask people to be patient around that, if you do need sandbags, five depots are available,” he told reporters.“If you are concerned about river flooding, please do not be concerned, please do not come and collect sandbags if you were affected by river flooding in 2011, 2013.“If you are in a creek system, then absolutely if you feel the need to, come and get sandbags.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.22am BST | at 3.22am BST |
| 3.14am BST | 3.14am BST |
| 03:14 | 03:14 |
| Motorists appear to be ignoring the warnings of authorities to stay off the roads. Vision shows cars driving through floodwaters in Milton, on the northern banks of the Brisbane river. | Motorists appear to be ignoring the warnings of authorities to stay off the roads. Vision shows cars driving through floodwaters in Milton, on the northern banks of the Brisbane river. |
| BMW gets stuck in floodwaters in Milton. Video: Lachie Bishop-West. Live coverage on @Ch7Queensland now. https://t.co/P58RQGdkMN #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/Zq9BtAHmEm | BMW gets stuck in floodwaters in Milton. Video: Lachie Bishop-West. Live coverage on @Ch7Queensland now. https://t.co/P58RQGdkMN #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/Zq9BtAHmEm |
| Backstreets in the nearby suburb of Paddington are also flooded. | Backstreets in the nearby suburb of Paddington are also flooded. |
| Beck street in Paddington flooded. #bnestorm #bigwet #TCDebbie #auspol #brisbane #brisbaneWeather pic.twitter.com/nE6q5e0mmt | Beck street in Paddington flooded. #bnestorm #bigwet #TCDebbie #auspol #brisbane #brisbaneWeather pic.twitter.com/nE6q5e0mmt |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.22am BST | at 3.22am BST |
| 3.08am BST | 3.08am BST |
| 03:08 | 03:08 |
| The State Emergency Service has received more than 430 calls for help in south-east Queensland, mostly for sandbagging. | The State Emergency Service has received more than 430 calls for help in south-east Queensland, mostly for sandbagging. |
| Police are receiving calls about localised flooding across the city. | Police are receiving calls about localised flooding across the city. |
| Police receiving numerous calls about localised flooding. Remember if it's flooded, FORGET IT. More info https://t.co/uorThgx8AG #bnetraffic pic.twitter.com/2myNSgK3eo | Police receiving numerous calls about localised flooding. Remember if it's flooded, FORGET IT. More info https://t.co/uorThgx8AG #bnetraffic pic.twitter.com/2myNSgK3eo |
| The Queensland University of Technology has closed its campus entirely. | The Queensland University of Technology has closed its campus entirely. |
| 3.03am BST | 3.03am BST |
| 03:03 | 03:03 |
| Major flooding is now expected for NSW’s northern rivers, including the Tweed. The Bureau of Meteorology has just updated its flood warning for the region. | Major flooding is now expected for NSW’s northern rivers, including the Tweed. The Bureau of Meteorology has just updated its flood warning for the region. |
| Flood Warning updated for the Tweed River. Major flooding expected at Murwillumbah today. https://t.co/Ss766fadjj #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/OrLAt1j2Gn | Flood Warning updated for the Tweed River. Major flooding expected at Murwillumbah today. https://t.co/Ss766fadjj #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/OrLAt1j2Gn |
| 3.01am BST | 3.01am BST |
| 03:01 | 03:01 |
| We mentioned earlier that people were trapped by floodwaters at Eton, near Mackay. Emergency services say they have now evacuated more than 80 people from Eton. That includes 12 people who were taken by helicopter to Walkerston, to the north-east. | We mentioned earlier that people were trapped by floodwaters at Eton, near Mackay. Emergency services say they have now evacuated more than 80 people from Eton. That includes 12 people who were taken by helicopter to Walkerston, to the north-east. |
| > 80 evacuations from Eton: 46 moved to higher ground yesterday; 12 choppered to Walkerstone today @ 10am. Stay away from flooded areas. | > 80 evacuations from Eton: 46 moved to higher ground yesterday; 12 choppered to Walkerstone today @ 10am. Stay away from flooded areas. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.39am BST | at 3.39am BST |
| 2.54am BST | 2.54am BST |
| 02:54 | 02:54 |
| The Gold Coast is experiencing major flooding. These cars are almost fully submerged outside Robina hospital. | The Gold Coast is experiencing major flooding. These cars are almost fully submerged outside Robina hospital. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.01am BST | at 3.01am BST |
| 2.48am BST | 2.48am BST |
| 02:48 | 02:48 |
| Worst still to come for south-east Queensland | Worst still to come for south-east Queensland |
| The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that the worst is yet to come for south-east Queensland. The meteorologist James Taylor said Brisbane was now seeing 35mm to 45mm of rainfall an hour, with some areas experiencing more than 50mm. He said flash flooding was a real concern in the city. Heavy rain overnight meant the run-off from this morning’s rain would be “extremely quick”. | The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that the worst is yet to come for south-east Queensland. The meteorologist James Taylor said Brisbane was now seeing 35mm to 45mm of rainfall an hour, with some areas experiencing more than 50mm. He said flash flooding was a real concern in the city. Heavy rain overnight meant the run-off from this morning’s rain would be “extremely quick”. |
| The remnants of Cyclone Debbie are still moving towards the state’s south-east and are starting to interact with a cold front moving north. | The remnants of Cyclone Debbie are still moving towards the state’s south-east and are starting to interact with a cold front moving north. |
| That means rainfall on the northern and southern flank of Debbie will intensify and push into the Great Dividing Range, south of Wide Bay and Burnett. | That means rainfall on the northern and southern flank of Debbie will intensify and push into the Great Dividing Range, south of Wide Bay and Burnett. |
| “That’s one threat,” Taylor told the ABC. “The winds are also another threat. We are seeing with some of the more intense shower and thunderstorm activity, wind gusts in the order of 100-110km/h along the southern coast of Queensland. | “That’s one threat,” Taylor told the ABC. “The winds are also another threat. We are seeing with some of the more intense shower and thunderstorm activity, wind gusts in the order of 100-110km/h along the southern coast of Queensland. |
| “Now, as the ex-tropical cyclone makes its way into the Tasman Sea early on Friday morning, we will see storm-force southerly winds, so winds averaging more than 100km/h [and] wind gusts more than 125km/h possible along the coastal fringe of New South Wales, and potentially into southern Queensland.” | “Now, as the ex-tropical cyclone makes its way into the Tasman Sea early on Friday morning, we will see storm-force southerly winds, so winds averaging more than 100km/h [and] wind gusts more than 125km/h possible along the coastal fringe of New South Wales, and potentially into southern Queensland.” |
| Taylor said conditions were easing on the north Queensland coast. He said the worst was over for that region. | Taylor said conditions were easing on the north Queensland coast. He said the worst was over for that region. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.55am BST | at 2.55am BST |
| 2.40am BST | 2.40am BST |
| 02:40 | 02:40 |
| Brisbane’s Breakfast Creek is flooding. The creek flows from the west into the city, past the Enoggera army base, Ballymore stadium, and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital, before joining the Brisbane river. | Brisbane’s Breakfast Creek is flooding. The creek flows from the west into the city, past the Enoggera army base, Ballymore stadium, and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital, before joining the Brisbane river. |
| Breakfast Creek in Newmarket has had enough. @ABCemergency @abcbrisbane @HarrietTatham @LachHarro #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/jDuFzXNWMV | Breakfast Creek in Newmarket has had enough. @ABCemergency @abcbrisbane @HarrietTatham @LachHarro #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/jDuFzXNWMV |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.52am BST | at 2.52am BST |
| 2.32am BST | 2.32am BST |
| 02:32 | 02:32 |
| This rainfall map for Brisbane (yes, it’s in there somewhere) gives an idea of just what the city is going through right now. | This rainfall map for Brisbane (yes, it’s in there somewhere) gives an idea of just what the city is going through right now. |
| 2.28am BST | 2.28am BST |
| 02:28 | 02:28 |
| There’s an update from tourist Hermione Gardiner, who is stuck on Daydream Island. She told my colleague Helen Davidson that the navy had arrived. | There’s an update from tourist Hermione Gardiner, who is stuck on Daydream Island. She told my colleague Helen Davidson that the navy had arrived. |
| “Navy is here, getting us off soon. I think we’re being shipped to Airlie Beach but no news what will happen when we get there … roads to Proserpine airport closed,” Gardiner said. | “Navy is here, getting us off soon. I think we’re being shipped to Airlie Beach but no news what will happen when we get there … roads to Proserpine airport closed,” Gardiner said. |
| If they do manage to get to Airlie Beach, they’ll at least be fed. The Airlie Beach catering service is putting on free food to anyone who wants it. | If they do manage to get to Airlie Beach, they’ll at least be fed. The Airlie Beach catering service is putting on free food to anyone who wants it. |
| Airlie Beach catering service has opened its door to anyone wanting a free feed. Amazing spirit on display. #TCDebbie #bigwet @abcnews pic.twitter.com/z3JCBhUxSj | Airlie Beach catering service has opened its door to anyone wanting a free feed. Amazing spirit on display. #TCDebbie #bigwet @abcnews pic.twitter.com/z3JCBhUxSj |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.51am BST | at 2.51am BST |