One person has died, and thousands have been forced to evacuate as northeast Australia grapples with severe flooding driven by relentless torrential rain and tropical storms. The tragic incident occurred in Ingham on Sunday morning when a woman drowned after the rescue boat she was in capsized upon colliding with a tree. This disaster comes after days of heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 600 mm (about 23 inches) within a 24-hour period.
The Herbert River, which reached a record height of 15.2 meters during the catastrophic floods of 1967, is currently measured at 14.89 meters and continues to rise. Emergency services have issued urgent warnings for residents in Townsville's "black zone" to evacuate by midday on Sunday as conditions worsen. Evacuation centers have been established to accommodate those affected.
Local authorities have issued emergency alerts in the Townsville suburb of Bluewater, cautioning residents that "your life may be at risk." The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, "Water is rising fast and there will be dangerous and life-threatening flooding." They further advised, “If you do not leave it may become too dangerous for emergency services to rescue you.”
The flooding has severely impacted large regions along the North Queensland coast, particularly the town of Ingham and the nearby city of Townsville. Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation has also warned residents to remain vigilant for crocodiles that may be present in the floodwaters. “During flooding, crocodiles can turn up in places they haven’t been seen before as they move about in search of calmer waters,” they noted. Furthermore, residents were cautioned to "expect crocodiles in all north and far north Queensland waterways even if there is no warning sign."
This latest crisis follows devastating flooding that struck Townsville in 2019, which was labeled as a "one-in-100-year event" by the then state premier. Queensland's federal government has stepped in, offering resources to address the current disaster.
Leading figures have expressed their condolences and concern for the affected communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “My thoughts are with the family and the entire community at this awful time.” David Crisafulli, a local leader, added, “That’s a really tight-knit community; our thoughts and prayers are with the family.” He urged residents to "take precautions, prepare for the worst, listen to the advice. This is a serious event."
