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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ex-Cyclone Debbie forces mass closure of Queensland schools | Ex-Cyclone Debbie forces mass closure of Queensland schools |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| All schools in south-east Queensland, Australia, have been closed due to flooding caused by ex-Cyclone Debbie. | |
| The storm hit the state's most populous region on Thursday after pummelling the north-east coast for two days. | |
| Although no longer a cyclone, the storm has lashed Queensland's capital Brisbane with 200mm of rain in two hours - more than its monthly average. | |
| No injuries have been reported, but authorities closed more than 1,000 schools and urged people to stay home. | |
| "We have not seen the worst of this weather system in the south-east," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. | |
| Every school in an almost 600km (370 miles) area stretching from Agnes Water to Coolangatta will remain closed until at least Monday, she said. | |
| Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the "unprecedented late call" was made after some children were already at school. | Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the "unprecedented late call" was made after some children were already at school. |
| "We can't afford to have inexperienced young kids walking home from school at a time where there could be flash-flooding," he said. | "We can't afford to have inexperienced young kids walking home from school at a time where there could be flash-flooding," he said. |
| More than 1,200 childcare centres were also closed, according to a government website. | |
| Authorities pleaded with people to stay off roads and close shops, saying dozens of people had been rescued from floodwaters. | |
| Rescues under way | |
| Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was "extraordinary" there had not been more injuries, criticising one person seen on a jet ski. | |
| "What our worst fears are is that people do silly things like this, and this is when the tragedy will occur," she told the local Nine Network. | |
| "Please keep your children away from drains [and] stay in your house." | |
| Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said parts of south-east Queensland could see up to 400mm of rain on Thursday. | Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said parts of south-east Queensland could see up to 400mm of rain on Thursday. |
| "What we know is that we are anticipating the heavy falls in a short duration of time," senior forecaster Matthew Bass said. | "What we know is that we are anticipating the heavy falls in a short duration of time," senior forecaster Matthew Bass said. |
| Assessing damage | |
| Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said nature was "flinging her worst" at Australians. | |
| "It is going to take some time to recover, and that's why we are here to show our support and commitment," he said from Bowen, a damaged town in northern Queensland. | |
| Cyclone Debbie made landfall in north-east Queensland as a category four system on Tuesday. | Cyclone Debbie made landfall in north-east Queensland as a category four system on Tuesday. |
| Authorities said 61,000 homes remained without power, and there was major damage to buildings, sugar cane and tomato crops. | Authorities said 61,000 homes remained without power, and there was major damage to buildings, sugar cane and tomato crops. |
| The cyclone is also likely to have damaged the Great Barrier Reef, marine experts warned. | The cyclone is also likely to have damaged the Great Barrier Reef, marine experts warned. |