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Flood-weary north Queensland prepares for another 100mm of rain ‘Really worried’: flood-weary north Queensland prepares for more rain as Albanese and army arrive
(about 5 hours later)
Forecasters warn of more wet weather in some locations, including Townsville, on Thursday Forecasters warn of more wet weather in some locations, including Townsville, as soldiers assist in recovery efforts
Rain-battered northern Australia is preparing for continued wet weather with flood-weary residents fearing more thick, black mud to clean up. Help is on the way for a flood-ravaged region after the army flew in to assist recovery efforts and rebuild a key bridge that collapsed in a deadly deluge.
Ayr to Cairns in northern Queensland has been inundated with heavy rainfall and flooding for days as forecasters warn of falls of more than 100mm in the next 24 hours. But the flood threat remains with more widespread showers and storms forecast, ensuring more anxious moments for north Queensland residents.
Before a visit to the region by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Thursday, flood-affected residents such as Marion Canty were anxious their homes will again be swamped with water and mud. The prime minister arrived in Townsville to tour flood-hit regions on Thursday, including Ollera Creek Bridge which was destroyed amid days of downpours, cutting off main arterial road the Bruce Highway.
“I am really worried,” she said. Anthony Albanese joined Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, at the Townsville Disaster Management Centre as torrential rain returned to the garrison city, sparking more flooding fears.
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Canty watched the flood waters inundate the bottom level of her Giru home, south of Townsville, on Sunday, as she sat isolated, without power. “I was doing breakfast TV this morning in the rain and I could barely hear because it was coming down on a metal roof,” Albanese said.
She has lived through at least four floods but the regional Queenslander said this was by far the worst. He addressed the disaster meeting at the busy management centre before heading out to the Ollera Creek Bridge rebuild which will restore a critical link to the isolated community of Ingham.
To make matters more difficult, Canty lost her husband five weeks ago and this marked the first flood without his support. The town has been one of the worst hit by flooding that has cut power and forced hundreds to evacuate across the north, with two lives lost and a man missing after being swept away on Tuesday night.
Australian Defence Force personnel were assisting with constructing a temporary crossing at the bridge with army helicopters also borrowed from Singapore to help deliver essentials to hard hit regions like Ingham.
Another 300 emergency services personnel also arrived in the north as it braced for more wet weather.
Flood-affected residents like Marion Canty were anxious their homes would again be swamped, just days after going under.
“I am really worried,” she said.
Canty watched the flood waters inundate the bottom level of her Giru home, south of Townsville, on Sunday as she sat isolated and without power.
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She has lived through at least four floods but the weekend incident was by far the worst.
Adding to her anxiety, it marked the first flood without her husband who she lost five weeks ago.
“I feel as though I have been left on my own,” she said.“I feel as though I have been left on my own,” she said.
“He was the one who did everything, cleaned everything, but it is all left to me now.” Heavy showers were forecast for Townsville up to Friday, with the wet weather spreading to inland Queensland.
Canty’s daughter Kim and granddaughter Josie came to help clean up the thick, smelly black mud that coated the floors and the shed on Wednesday. Up to 70mm hit west Townsville as widespread showers and storms with 50mm to 150mm rainfall lashed the north overnight.
The pair had mud-coated hands and their crocs turned from white to black as they mopped up the mess. Some of the heaviest falls were recorded out west at Longreach and Hughenden along with Emerald and hard hit Ingham.
Other northern Queenslanders have not yet been able to start the clean-up as cut-off Ingham still grapples with deep flood waters. Flooding at Ingham has cut power for days, disrupted telecommunications and affected food supply with residents at one stage told they had run out of running water.
The town’s streets and homes were submerged and the local substation was also flooded meaning power has been cut for days. The focus is on restoring power with crews flown in to assess the local sub station which was completely inundated.
Residents lost their water supply on Wednesday before agencies rushed to fix the facilities with the focus now on restoring power. The Ingham community is reeling after two women lost their lives, while emergency services were on Thursday still searching for the man swept away.
Ingham residents reportedly lined up at a petrol station to fill jerry cans to power generators, with diesel running out on Tuesday. Extra police patrols had also been deployed to crack down on looting, with three offences reported in Ingham and Townsville’s Rosslea and Railway Estate.
There were also accounts of police maintaining order outside a local Woolworths, with hundreds queueing outside to grab vital provisions.
The emergency turned deadly after two people lost their lives in Ingham while emergency services frantically searched for a man swept away in flood waters.
The man – described as Caucasian, about 188cm tall, with dark hair – was last seen entering flood waters about 5.15pm on Tuesday.
He was wearing black shorts, a black singlet, a black backpack and arrived on a blue bicycle.
As residents remain evacuated, police have deployed extra patrols to crack down on looting of empty homes after three offences were reported in Ingham and Townsville’s Rosslea and Railway Estate.
“I am disgusted by these reports of people in our community taking advantage of this weather event and the devastation it has caused across our region,” Townsville Supt Chris Lawson said.“I am disgusted by these reports of people in our community taking advantage of this weather event and the devastation it has caused across our region,” Townsville Supt Chris Lawson said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of extensive rain across the north of Queensland on Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of extensive rain across the north of Queensland on Thursday.
Meteorologist Angus Hines said falls should ease slightly on the tropical coast but will intensify in central Queensland and on the coast near Mackay. Widespread showers and thunderstorms were forecast across much of the state’s north, from Mount Isa to Rockhampton on Thursday, with heavy falls inland of Mackay and Townsville.
The latest forecast for Townsville suggested falls up to 140mm on Thursday, while Ingham has up to 50mm of rain expected. A number of flood watches and warnings were issued across northern and central inland Queensland.
Flood watches were issued for northern, inland and central parts of Queensland.