Woman dies in floods, premier tells residents to evacuate as water levels rise

A woman has died in what could be the worst flooding on record for parts of north Queensland, with residents of six Townsville suburbs told to evacuate and the city’s airport closed.

Queensland Police said the woman, believed to be a member of the public, died at Ingham when a rescue boat capsized while trying to help residents evacuate flooded areas.

“I can confirm that the SES were responding to a rescue this morning when this has taken place,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy.

Premier David Crisafulli said his thoughts and prayers were with the woman’s family.

He also emphasised the severity and urgency of the flooding, warning residents not to be complacent.

“Locals in Ingham refer to the 1967 flood, that’s one of the large historic floods in that area. The Herbert River reached 15.2 metres in that flood, it’s currently at 14.89 metres and rising,” he said.

“Some of the falls we saw overnight in different parts were, quite frankly, at incredible levels.

“If people are in a situation where they believe that is a prospect, don’t take the risk. Please leave, and I just can’t be more clear about that.”

Crisafulli said swiftwater rescue crews, including Water Police, SES and defence personnel, had been deployed in and around flood zones, and he urged anyone who felt they were in danger to call triple zero.

Flood levels are continuing to rise above floorboards, with Townsville and its surrounds already receiving between 500mm and 800mm of rain, fuelled by two tropical lows.

As rivers break their banks, floodwaters are expected to flow into communities. Credit: Nine

The heavy rain is affecting areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and North Tropical Coast, extending from Mackay to south of Cairns.

Emergency warnings are in place for six Townsville suburbs in an evacuation zone: Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea.

Major flooding continues across multiple catchments across north Queensland, with heavy to locally intense rainfall forecast, which may cause flash flooding on Sunday night.

The latest Queensland flood warnings can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website or on the state government’s Disaster Management site.

An emergency warning was issued at 5am on Sunday for Hinchinbrook Shire, with authorities urging residents to stay in place.

“Get up as high as you can where you are. There is dangerous flooding,” it warned.

The Australian and Queensland governments have activated personal hardship assistance payments for affected residents.

Seven-day rainfall totals of more than 900mm have hammered the North Tropical Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

“We could even be talking about places in excess of one metre over the next few days. That is an incredible amount of rainfall,” said senior meteorologist Dean Narramore.

With six Townsville suburbs ordered to evacuate, some residents are taking to the water by whatever means possible. Credit: Nine

Authorities have sent further resources to the state’s north, with the Australian Defence Force helping on the ground.

State disaster co-ordinator Shane Chelepy said the death at Ingham highlighted the dangers and risks of floods.

“[They] do put our members of the community at risk, but also it puts our emergency service workers and our emergency services volunteers at risk,” he said on Sunday.

He encouraged people to leave if necessary from a large number of isolated communities.

“If you are being asked to leave, please do so, because it is really dangerous for you, your family and emergency services if we need to come back and rescue you at times of crisis.”

An evacuation centre is open at Heatley in Townsville for affected residents.

It is believed the flooding may exceed levels experienced in March 2018 at Ingham Pump Station, Halifax, Gleneagle, Abergowrie Bridge and Gairloch.

AAP