‘Don’t return’: Warning to residents as deadly floods lash Far North Queensland

Residents have been urged not to return home as deadly floods continue to smash one state, as towns are cut off and some areas record more than a metre of rain.

Residents have been urged not to return to their homes as deadly floods battering Far North Queensland are set to worsen.

Parts of North Queensland have been smashed by more than 1.2 metres of rain since Saturday, with hundreds urged to flee their homes and about 6500 without power.

Another 100 homes are expected to be submerged on Tuesday morning, with the Ross River in Townsville tipped to reach 2 metres.

A bridge on the Bruce Highway, which connects Far North and North Queensland with Central Queensland, was broken apart in the wild weather on Sunday afternoon, hampering efforts to get essential supplies to the region.

The bridge, at Ollera Creek north of Townsville, was washed away in the storms, and was expected to take “a considerable number of weeks” to repair, Gary Mahon from the Queensland Trucking Association told ABC.

Ingham in Far North Queensland was smashed by floods. Picture: Veronica Lawlor.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Tuesday said it had left “thousands of people at the mercy” of nature.

“The advice is it could take some time (to fix),” Mr Crisafulli said on Today.

“I want to throw the kitchen sink at it, because the last thing you want is a lack of connectivity. So we’ll know a little bit more in the in the days ahead, but believe me, it is a top priority for me.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the Bruce Highway would ‘take some time’ to repair after a bridge on the highway was broken apart. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Townsville Local Disaster Management Group chairman Andrew Robinson urged residents not to return to black zones, which included parts of Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea.

“It’s extremely important that residents don’t return to the black zone purely because the fact we have not reached the highest flood level which should be about tomorrow (Tuesday) early morning,” Mr Robinson said, according to the Courier Mail.

Mr Robinson on Monday also said flooding was expected as the Ross River hadn’t reached its peak.

“There has been a good response to our call to evacuate. Most residents have listened to warnings and evacuated to friends and families homes or to evacuation centres,” Mr Robinson said.

“If you have not yet evacuated and feel it is safe to do so, please leave now. All residents in the Townsville LGA should remain prepared to leave if conditions worsen.”

Isolated falls of up to 180mm of rain could fall within six hours in Cardwell to Yabulu on Tuesday. Picture: Kieran Volpe.

Major flood warnings were issued for the Haughton River Catchment, Herbert River and Upper Burdekin River while moderate warnings were put in place for the Lower Burdekin River, Ross River, and Tully and Murray Rivers.

A minor warning was issued for the Don River and Bohle River, with initial minor flood warnings in place for the Connors and Isaac Rivers and Mulgrave and Russell Rivers.

A flood watch was in place for the Burdekin and Proserpine Catchments, while a warning was also issued for the Black River and Bluewater Creek and final warnings were issued for Johnstone River Catchment and the Pioneer River.

A road at Hinchinbrook Harbour near the boat ramp crumbled. Picture: Matt Price/Facebook

Those in the North Tropical Coast, Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts were also warned of heavy rainfall in a severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday morning.

Isolated falls of up to 180mm of rain could fall within six hours in Cardwell to Yabulu.

Several towns across Far North Queensland received jaw-dropping 24-hour rainfall totals on Monday, with Cardwell recording 655mm of rain in the 24 hours to 5pm on Monday, while 560mm was recorded at Paluma.

The floods have already claimed the life of a woman, who died on Sunday morning after an emergency services boat flipped over in floodwaters at Rutledge St in Ingham.

“Tragic news coming out of the tight-knit Ingham community today with the loss of one of their own,” Mr Crisafulli posted to social media on Sunday.

“Our thoughts are with their friends and family during this devastating time, and the emergency services personnel working in these dangerous conditions.”

More to come...

Originally published as ‘Don’t return’: Warning to residents as deadly floods lash Far North Queensland