Queensland flooding now at “biblical” levels
Saturday, 03 Jan, 2011
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The flooding in Queensland has now reached “biblical” proportions, according to a regional official, with 20,000 people across 20 cities and towns hit by the adverse weather.
The floods claimed their first victim at the weekend when a 41-year-old woman died after her car was swept into a river in western Queensland. Police say another two people are also thought to have drowned.
Cyclone Tasha brought chaos to the region after it formed over northern Queensland on Christmas Day. Torrential rain followed and then flooding by three rivers systems.
Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser told reporters: “In many ways, it is a disaster of biblical proportions."
In the tourism centre of Rockhampton, 350 miles north of Brisbane, the Fitzroy River was 8.9m above its normal height and still rising yesterday and a similar story is happening in dozens of conurbations in the state.
With Rockhampton’s airport under water, military planes are flying food into the city of Mackay four hours away where it will then be taken by road to stranded residents, many of whom are now holed up at the city university’s makeshift evacuation centre.
And the nightmare is set to continue as more rain is forecast for the next few days. After that, residents will make their depressing journey back to their homes to salvage what they can and rebuild the rest.
by Dinah Hatch
Dinah
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