Thousands flee homes as floods hit Australia

Flooding triggered by days of torrential rain in northern Queensland, Australia, has resulted in the death of one woman and the evacuation of thousands from their homes. Authorities have stated that water levels will continue to rise, warning of a situation that is "dangerous and life-threatening." Since last Saturday, some areas in the region have received nearly 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) of rainfall.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said that "record" rainfall is expected to continue through Monday. Meteorologists have described this as potentially the worst flooding in the area in over 60 years. Miles stated that the current situation is unlike anything northern Queensland has experienced "in a long time." "It's not just the intensity, it's the duration of it," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The woman who died was aboard a State Emergency Service (SES) dinghy that capsized after hitting a tree in the town of Ingham. It is understood that she was a member of the public being rescued, not an emergency responder. The other five people on board were safely rescued. An investigation has been launched. Meanwhile, in Cardwell, about halfway between Cairns and Townsville, three people were rescued from the roof of a house.

Video footage showed a man in Ingham clinging to a pole after his vehicle was swept away, before being rescued by locals in a boat. The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group stated that as river levels rise, 2,000 homes in the city could be flooded, with some potentially inundated up to the second floor. On Sunday afternoon, thousands of people in six suburbs of Townsville were told to evacuate, but officials said that about 10% of residents chose to stay. These areas were also severely affected by floods in 2019.

Premier Miles urged people to heed the warnings, stating, "Ultimately, houses, cars, and furniture can be replaced. Your family cannot." On Sunday evening, local time, a new evacuation center was being opened as others had reached capacity. Parts of a major highway have collapsed, hindering efforts to get rescue crews and sandbags to the worst-affected areas. Meanwhile, fresh food has sold out at supermarkets, and thousands of homes, including those in Ingham and the Palm Island Aboriginal community, are without power. Locals have also been warned to be aware of crocodiles lurking in floodwaters away from their usual habitats.

Northern Queensland, located in the tropics, is prone to destructive cyclones, storms, and floods. However, climate scientists say that warming oceans and a hotter planet are creating conditions for more intense and frequent extreme rainfall events.