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‘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, as soldiers assist in recovery efforts | |
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. | |
But the flood threat remains with more widespread showers and storms forecast, ensuring more anxious moments for north Queensland residents. | |
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. | |
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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“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. | |
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. | |
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. |
Heavy showers were forecast for Townsville up to Friday, with the wet weather spreading to inland Queensland. | |
Up to 70mm hit west Townsville as widespread showers and storms with 50mm to 150mm rainfall lashed the north overnight. | |
Some of the heaviest falls were recorded out west at Longreach and Hughenden along with Emerald and hard hit Ingham. | |
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 focus is on restoring power with crews flown in to assess the local sub station which was completely inundated. | |
The Ingham community is reeling after two women lost their lives, while emergency services were on Thursday still searching for the man swept away. | |
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. | |
“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 warned of extensive rain across the north of Queensland on Thursday. | |
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. | |
A number of flood watches and warnings were issued across northern and central inland Queensland. | |
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