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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 | Ex-cyclone Debbie: scores rescued from floodwaters around Mackay – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.07am BST | |
| 06:07 | |
| Swift water rescue teams have pulled over 40 people from floodwaters today, with most either stranded in cars following flash floods across Brisbane, or on the Gold and Sunshine coasts. | |
| More details have come through of the rescue of the family trapped by floodwaters in their home at Tanawah, including four children aged from 11 months to nine years old. | |
| Their father, who has a broken back, has stayed at the house because he can’t be moved, but has medication and food supplies to last a few days, a rescue worker has told the Nine Network. | |
| Katarina Carroll, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, said reports of water rescues were coming in fast. | |
| “There has been close to 40 swift water rescues in the southeast, those figures are around an hour-and-a-half old so I expect they would have increased. | |
| “We haven’t received any reports of injuries and we certainly haven’t seen a spike in triple-0 calls which is very good at this stage, but we still have several hours to go before we’re out of the woods.” | |
| The rescues in southeast Queensland followed nearly 90 in the Mackay region overnight and this morning from floodwaters that left many stranded on the roofs of their homes and in their cars. | |
| About 40 people were rescued by swift water crews in the Homebush area southwest of Mackay, and moved to the West Leagues Club, including a heavily pregnant woman. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.08am BST | |
| 5.57am BST | |
| 05:57 | |
| My colleague Nick Evershed has put the former Cyclone Debbie into context, comparing the severity of the former cyclone with other weather events, like a light Melbourne drizzle to the torrential downpours caused by Cyclone Yasi in 2011. | |
| 5.48am BST | |
| 05:48 | |
| Elle Hunt | |
| Afternoon, all – I’m taking over the live blog from Christopher, who reported half an hour ago that all the schools in south-east Queensland that were closed today would remain so tomorrow. | |
| The state’s Department of Education and Training has put out a statement expanding on those closures, “strongly urging parents to check local weather conditions and road access, and put their safety — and that of their children — above all else”. | |
| Parents should continue to check the dedicated school closure website as well as the Bom site. | |
| Dr Jim Watterston, Director-General of Education and Training, said the decision to close was being made in the interests of safety, given the widespread severe weather warnings in place across much of the state. | |
| “The effects of former tropical cyclone Debbie are far-reaching, with severe weather and flood watch warnings now current for significant parts of the watch zone. ... | |
| “We would like to reassure all of our affected school communities that our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. The safety of all of our staff, our students and their families will always be our highest priority.” | |
| 5.32am BST | 5.32am BST |
| 05:32 | 05:32 |
| Here’s some more vision of the situation at the Gold Coast, where major flooding has cut off roads and submerged cars. These cars are stuck in floodwaters just outside the Robina hospital. | Here’s some more vision of the situation at the Gold Coast, where major flooding has cut off roads and submerged cars. These cars are stuck in floodwaters just outside the Robina hospital. |
| 5.28am BST | 5.28am BST |
| 05:28 | 05:28 |
| A thunderstorm is about to bring destructive winds to the Gympie Council Area. The Bureau of Meteorology has just issued a severe thunderstorm warning, and say damaging winds will hit Kilkivan by 2.35 pm (local time) and Kilkivan, Bauple and Mount Kanighan by 3.05 pm. | A thunderstorm is about to bring destructive winds to the Gympie Council Area. The Bureau of Meteorology has just issued a severe thunderstorm warning, and say damaging winds will hit Kilkivan by 2.35 pm (local time) and Kilkivan, Bauple and Mount Kanighan by 3.05 pm. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.29am BST | at 5.29am BST |
| 5.22am BST | 5.22am BST |
| 05:22 | 05:22 |
| Tourists who were trapped on Daydream Island are now in Airlie Beach, where they’ve again found themselves stuck with no accommodation and no information. | Tourists who were trapped on Daydream Island are now in Airlie Beach, where they’ve again found themselves stuck with no accommodation and no information. |
| One of the evacuees, Hermione Gardiner, told my colleague, Helen Davidson, that they were being given very little assistance. It sounds pretty grim for the group. | One of the evacuees, Hermione Gardiner, told my colleague, Helen Davidson, that they were being given very little assistance. It sounds pretty grim for the group. |
| “Just got to Airlie. Roads in and out are all flooded so can’t get anywhere,” she said. | “Just got to Airlie. Roads in and out are all flooded so can’t get anywhere,” she said. |
| “There are no emergency services or police or anything. Only film crews. The cruise Whitsundays team don’t know what to do - they said try to book accommodation if you can, but no availability and no power or water here.” | “There are no emergency services or police or anything. Only film crews. The cruise Whitsundays team don’t know what to do - they said try to book accommodation if you can, but no availability and no power or water here.” |
| “They said there may be a bus but they have no idea, no one knows what is going on and 160 people are not happy.” | “They said there may be a bus but they have no idea, no one knows what is going on and 160 people are not happy.” |
| Holiday makers arrive back from islands in the Whitsundays only to find they're now stuck in Airlie Beach. #TCDebbie #bigwet @abcnews pic.twitter.com/6RN32o2QQo | Holiday makers arrive back from islands in the Whitsundays only to find they're now stuck in Airlie Beach. #TCDebbie #bigwet @abcnews pic.twitter.com/6RN32o2QQo |
| 5.15am BST | 5.15am BST |
| 05:15 | 05:15 |
| South-east Queensland schools to remain closed on Friday | South-east Queensland schools to remain closed on Friday |
| Schools in storm-ravaged southeast Queensland will remain closed on Friday. | Schools in storm-ravaged southeast Queensland will remain closed on Friday. |
| The government announced this morning that all public, private, and independent schools would close on Thursday to limit movement and prevent injuries during Thursday’s dangerous weather. | The government announced this morning that all public, private, and independent schools would close on Thursday to limit movement and prevent injuries during Thursday’s dangerous weather. |
| It has now been announced the closures will extend to Friday. | It has now been announced the closures will extend to Friday. |
| There were predictions the rainfall would ease on Friday. But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not want to put children at any risk. School closures are in place between Agnes Water south to the NSW border. | There were predictions the rainfall would ease on Friday. But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not want to put children at any risk. School closures are in place between Agnes Water south to the NSW border. |
| UPDATE #TCDebbie All schools that were closed today will remain closed tomorrow @AnnastaciaMP #Bigwet | UPDATE #TCDebbie All schools that were closed today will remain closed tomorrow @AnnastaciaMP #Bigwet |
| 5.10am BST | 5.10am BST |
| 05:10 | 05:10 |
| Residents outside the Queensland town of Biloela are being urged to consider relocating as authorities issue an emergency alert for water levels at the Callide and Kroombit Dams. | Residents outside the Queensland town of Biloela are being urged to consider relocating as authorities issue an emergency alert for water levels at the Callide and Kroombit Dams. |
| Police said preparations to leave should be made immediately and residents in areas at risk are being told to head to the Biloela Civic Centre. | Police said preparations to leave should be made immediately and residents in areas at risk are being told to head to the Biloela Civic Centre. |
| “Residents downstream of the dams are advised to monitor dam levels in case water releases are required,” police said. | “Residents downstream of the dams are advised to monitor dam levels in case water releases are required,” police said. |
| 5.06am BST | 5.06am BST |
| 05:06 | 05:06 |
| The Bureau of Meteorology says parts of Brisbane have recorded 200mm in two hours. Parts of the Gold Coast have seen 380mm. | The Bureau of Meteorology says parts of Brisbane have recorded 200mm in two hours. Parts of the Gold Coast have seen 380mm. |
| Alpha Street, Taringa. Live coverage on @Ch7Queensland now. https://t.co/P58RQGdkMN #TCDebbie #7News pic.twitter.com/7PlKVNsz9n | Alpha Street, Taringa. Live coverage on @Ch7Queensland now. https://t.co/P58RQGdkMN #TCDebbie #7News pic.twitter.com/7PlKVNsz9n |
| Can't get onto the highway from my house as access closed. This Gold Coast weather is unbelievable at the moment. Definitely staying indoors pic.twitter.com/U1CIGPjCER | Can't get onto the highway from my house as access closed. This Gold Coast weather is unbelievable at the moment. Definitely staying indoors pic.twitter.com/U1CIGPjCER |
| Dam overflowing in central Queensland after heavy falls last night and this morning from #TCDebbie. Number 7 Dam at Mount Morgan @abcnews pic.twitter.com/VJQskdDjEt | Dam overflowing in central Queensland after heavy falls last night and this morning from #TCDebbie. Number 7 Dam at Mount Morgan @abcnews pic.twitter.com/VJQskdDjEt |
| Langlands St, East Brisbane: cars underwater, houses flooding underneath pic.twitter.com/i1mTyi2O0a | Langlands St, East Brisbane: cars underwater, houses flooding underneath pic.twitter.com/i1mTyi2O0a |
| 4.57am BST | 4.57am BST |
| 04:57 | 04:57 |
| Malcolm Turnbull has arrived back in Canberra after his visit to cyclone-affected areas on the north Queensland coast. Turnbull spoke of Cyclone Debbie in question time, praising emergency services and the military, which he said had the largest pre-deployment for a natural disaster in its history. | Malcolm Turnbull has arrived back in Canberra after his visit to cyclone-affected areas on the north Queensland coast. Turnbull spoke of Cyclone Debbie in question time, praising emergency services and the military, which he said had the largest pre-deployment for a natural disaster in its history. |
| Turnbull said his visit had reinforced the importance of cyclone-resistant structures. | Turnbull said his visit had reinforced the importance of cyclone-resistant structures. |
| “I think the leader of the opposition and I were both very impressed, as was the member for Dawson, by the way in which ... there was relatively limited damage to many structures built after 1985,” he said. | “I think the leader of the opposition and I were both very impressed, as was the member for Dawson, by the way in which ... there was relatively limited damage to many structures built after 1985,” he said. |
| “It is quite clear that the building standards in recent years have made a very big difference.” | “It is quite clear that the building standards in recent years have made a very big difference.” |
| Turnbull praised the resilience of residents in north Queensland. | Turnbull praised the resilience of residents in north Queensland. |
| “I have to say, Mr Speaker, nature flicks her worst at us again and again, and north Queensland feels the brunt of that again and again,” he said. | “I have to say, Mr Speaker, nature flicks her worst at us again and again, and north Queensland feels the brunt of that again and again,” he said. |
| “But when Australians pull together, when they work together in a common cause, they can tackle anything.” | “But when Australians pull together, when they work together in a common cause, they can tackle anything.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.00am BST | at 5.00am BST |
| 4.48am BST | 4.48am BST |
| 04:48 | 04:48 |
| South-east Queensland may receive 400mm of rainfall in 24 hours | South-east Queensland may receive 400mm of rainfall in 24 hours |
| South-east Queensland could experience rainfall of 400mm in 24 hours. The rainfall is set to intensify throughout the afternoon and into Thursday night. | South-east Queensland could experience rainfall of 400mm in 24 hours. The rainfall is set to intensify throughout the afternoon and into Thursday night. |
| Queensland Police commissioner, Ian Stewart, was wary of predicting rainfall in any single area. | Queensland Police commissioner, Ian Stewart, was wary of predicting rainfall in any single area. |
| “I think we’ve got to be careful that we’re not sending a message that you might have 400 or 500mm of rain in a particular area. It could actually happen everywhere,” Stewart said. | “I think we’ve got to be careful that we’re not sending a message that you might have 400 or 500mm of rain in a particular area. It could actually happen everywhere,” Stewart said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.58am BST | at 4.58am BST |
| 4.39am BST | 4.39am BST |
| 04:39 | 04:39 |
| Some good news from the Sunshine Coast. We mentioned earlier a family was trapped in their home by floodwaters at Tanawha. They have now been rescued, and have been taken to dry land on an inflatable raft. | Some good news from the Sunshine Coast. We mentioned earlier a family was trapped in their home by floodwaters at Tanawha. They have now been rescued, and have been taken to dry land on an inflatable raft. |
| TANAWHA (Sunshine Coast): Family rescued from flooded home. Inflatable raft making its way to dry land now. | TANAWHA (Sunshine Coast): Family rescued from flooded home. Inflatable raft making its way to dry land now. |