In a devastating turn of events, torrential rain has unleashed catastrophic flooding in parts of northern Queensland, Australia, forcing thousands to evacuate and resulting in at least one death. Emergency services have described the situation as extremely dangerous, with forecasts indicating that floodwaters could rise to heights reaching the second story of buildings.
In the past 24 hours, some areas have recorded over 700mm (or 26 inches) of rainfall, leading Queensland State Premier David Crisafulli to warn residents of "record rainfalls" that are expected to persist into Monday. Meteorological experts suggest these floods could be the most significant the region has experienced in over six decades.
"This event is unprecedented in terms of both its intensity and length," Crisafulli informed ABC, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the conditions devastating northern Queensland.
Authorities issued an evacuation order to residents in Townsville, urging them to vacate their homes by midday Sunday. To combat the rising waters, officials deployed 100,000 sandbags in strategic locations, but flooding has also disrupted crucial transport routes, including the road connecting Townsville and the tourist hotspot of Cairns, further complicating emergency response efforts.
