1/74A police car is seen partially submerged in a drain after being swamped by flood waters on February 05, 2019 in Townsville. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
IN PICTURES: Townsville flood crisis
From emotional rescues as residents’ homes go under water, to the weird and wonderful ways people are getting around in floodwaters, to the brave people who are working day and night to help — these are the incredible photos from the Townsville flood crisis.
2/74Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen hugging a resident in a flood affected area in Townsville, Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Acree)
3/74A flooded suburb is seen from above in Townsville on Monday, February 4, 2019. (AAP Image/Andrew Rankin)
4/74Glen Davey with dog, Amber, being rescued by SES. Picture: Alix Sweeney
5/74Glen Davey with dog, Amber, being rescued by SES. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
6/74Local resident Paul Shafer standing in floodwaters in Hermit Park, Townsville. Paul has been opening storm water drains near his house to reduce flooding and the star pickets show where the storm water cover has been removed. Picture: AAP Image/Andrew Rankin.
7/74Deeragun residents Lindle and Daniel Hanran and George Taylor at thier flooded home in Laura Court, Deeragun. Picture: Evan Morgan.
8/74An emotional Warrant Officer Jodi Farrell tells of the flooding ordeal of her house on the Fairways housing estate on Townsville Golf Course. Picture: Michael Chambers.
9/74Jules Hakiza, right, helps his 74yr old neighbour Trish Jurd to safety from the flooded Hermit Park street their houses are in. Picture: Michael Chambers.
10/74Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crew members use an inflatable boat to pull residents through floodwaters in Hermit Park Townsville, Picture: AAP/Andrew Rankin.
11/74Frank Apsland outside his corner store in Railway Estate, open for business. Picture: Evan Morgan.
12/74Residents of Rosslea being evacuated as Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
13/74Allison Stokes of Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney
14/74Tina Stephensen cries as she hugs a member of the Swift Water Rescue Crew that rescued her on Fraire Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
15/74Candy the Chihuahua floats along on a tyre in Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
16/74Ross Browning not phased by the rain in Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
17/74Melody Reyesand her daughters Anshie Rayes,12, and Audrey Reyes, 15, make their way down flooded Bowen Road. Picture: Michael Chambers.
18/74Robin Webb and Ken Leon leave their house with what belongings could be salvaged. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
19/74Captain Stacey Brown helps Robin Webb from her house after she returned to see the devastation. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
20/74Troops from the Australian Army 4th Regiment door knock to urge Townsville residents to evacuate. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
21/74Troops from the Australian Army 4th Regiment door knock to urge Townsville residents to evacuate. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
22/74A flooded home in Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney
23/74Senior Constable Wade Jackson leads police through flooded water in Hermit Park to assist residents to safely get out. Picture: Michael Chambers.
24/74Flooded street in Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Michael Chambers.
25/74Narelle Rose and her daughters; Dakota, 13, and Ahlexis, 9, and mother Glenys Ellis, 61, at Narelle’s Deeragun home. Picture: Michael Chambers.
26/74Gary Hanley with his son-in-law Matthew Mitchell and grandson William wade through flood water in Railway Estate, Townsville. Picture: Glenn Hunt / The Australian.
27/74Oonoonba Rd, Idalia. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
28/74Felecia, Shaun and Alese Heirdsfield look out at the flooded road in Idalia, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
29/74Cowboys player Kurt Baptiste with his Bull Arab, Meeko, walking through flood waters. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
30/74SES water rescue in Lakeland Blvd, Idalia. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
31/74Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk visits Townsville residents in the Evacuation centre at Heatley Secondary College. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
32/74Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk and Aaron Harper MP, visit Townsville residents in the Evacuation centre at Heatley Secondary College. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
33/74People evacuate from their homes on Marks Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
34/74Peter and Sandra Robinson evacuate from their home on Windsor Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
35/74Troops from the Australian Defence Force at Lavarack Barracks filling sandbags for residents of Townsville during the floods. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
36/74Dante Calliste with pet dog Kyah evacuate from Windsor Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
37/74Aerial image posted by Queensland Government Air showing flooding in Townsville. Source: QGA.
38/74Maggie-Rose Thompson, 17, Ellie-Rae Thompson, 14, Sharelle O’Connor, 17, and Devon Pegoraro,17, check out the flooded streets in Idalia, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
39/74A crocodile up against the railings at Aplins Weir, Townsville.
40/74Disaster officials meet at the Local Disaster Coordination Centre in Townsville. Picture: Michael Chambers.
41/74The Ross River Dam as it releases water due to flooding rain. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
42/74A child playing in floodwater in Idalia, Townsville, Picture: AAP Image/Andrew Rankin.
43/74A resident rides his bicycle in floodwaters in Idalia, Townsville, Picture: AAP Image/Andrew Rankin.
44/74Roslyn Smith in her home is Rosslea, Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
45/74Locals of Rosslea, Townsville driving around helping anyone in need. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
46/74Residents in Townsville strip Coles North Ward of items. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
47/74Bailee Hanran, 4, with sister Zara, 8, in their flooded loungeroom at their Deeragun home in Laura Court. Picture: Evan Morgan.
48/74Deeragun residents Lindle and Daniel Hanran with Zara, 8, and Bailee, 4, and George Taylor at their flooded home in Laura Court, Deeragun. Picture: Evan Morgan.
49/74Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crew members use an inflatable boat to pull residents through floodwaters in Hermit Park Townsville, Picture: AAP/Andrew Rankin.
50/74A resident walks through floodwaters with a bicycle in Hermit Park, Townsville, Picture: AAP/Andrew Rankin.
51/74Residents of Rosslea being evacuated as Townsville continues to flood from heavy monsoonal rain. Picture: Alix Sweeney.
52/74Railway Estate residents Virgil Groves and his sons Kailan, 13, and Jaemon, 10, take a walk through the flooded neighbourhood. Picture: Michael Chambers.
53/74From Marika Pryor, 15, Katrina O’Brien, Lamania Logan, 2, Dwayne O’Brien, 5, being pushed by Randall Parker are floated out of their flooded house in Hermit Park. Picture: Michael Chambers.
54/74Senior Constable Natasha Dibben carries 3 yr old Gabby Uwase out of flood waters in Hermit Park assisting residents to safely get out. Flooding in Townsville today. Photo: Michael Chambers. 02/02/2019
55/74Railway Estate resident Tracie Ensbey took her family to the Heatley Evacuation Centre. Picture: Michael Chambers.
56/74Megan Simmonds, 26. evacuating from her Rosslea home. Picture: Michael Chambers.
57/74Reagan Stockham and Picture: Nick Palka with boat in Charters Towers Road. Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
58/74Bengnon Tigbrell and Maddison Aquilini in Marks Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
59/74Reagan Stockham and Nick Palka with boat in Soule Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
60/74Swift water rescue team in Soule Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
61/74Mark Lovejoy at his home in Clayton Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
62/74Elaine Hammond with Benji in Clayton Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
63/74Hermit Park resident Michael Carperi carried Sunny from thier Sturges Street home. Picture: Evan Morgan
64/74Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill in Charters Towers Road. Picture: Evan Morgan
65/74Anne and Stuart Knight seek safety away from Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan
66/74Anne and Stuart Knight seek help from Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill. Picture: Evan Morgan
67/74A man paddles down flood waters on Queens Road, Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds
68/74Anja Hickey with friend Julie Bailey stand in flood waters in Hermit Park as her Norris Street property is underwater and is staying with Julie. Picture: Zak Simmonds
69/74Leslie Noble carries his aunty Clara Fullerton across flood waters on the corner of Norris Street and Queens Road. Picture: Zak Simmonds
70/74Leslie Noble carries his aunty Clara Fullerton across flood waters on the corner of Norris Street and Queens Road. Picture: Zak Simmonds
71/74Leslie Noble carries his aunty Clara Fullerton across flood waters on the corner of Norris Street and Queens Road. Picture: Zak Simmonds
72/74A man floats on a tube down Queen Road.Picture: Zak Simmonds
73/74Jennifer and Wayne Garvey are rescued by Townsville Water Police from their Queens Road home in Hermit Park. Picture: Zak Simmonds
74/74Townsville floods. A man rides his bike in Clayton Street, Hermit Park. Picture: Evan Morgan