Death toll rises following historic flooding in Australia
Half a million people could face evacuation orders in the days to come as additional rain douses the flood-weary region.
By
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Mar 1, 2022 2:19 PM EST
|
Updated Mar 3, 2022 8:07 AM EST
Homes and roads were fully engulfed by floodwaters in Lismore, New South Wales, on March 1. Heavy rain and flooding will continue over the next two days, moving south toward Sydney.
Recovery efforts continue in eastern Australia following days of excessive rainfall across the states of Queensland and New South Wales that left thousands of properties and entire neighborhoods underwater. More rain is on the way for some of the hardest-hit areas, AccuWeather forecasters say, and local officials warn that half a million people could face evacuation orders in the days to come.
As of Thursday, the rising waters had resulted in at least 14 deaths, and thousands were under evacuation orders, according to The Associated Press.
"We do believe that things will get worse before they get better in the state," Dominic Perrottet, Premier of New South Wales, said via Reuters.
Emergency departments deployed boats to help rescue residents from the rising floodwaters and helicopters airlifted those who were stranded on rooftops.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, said the government will continue to focus on the emergency response to the flooding in New South Wales and Queensland.
One of the hardest-hit cities was Lismore, a city in the northeastern corner of New South Wales, approximately 125 miles (200 km) south of Brisbane. In downtown Lismore, streets became raging rivers as harrowing video taken in the area captured water levels approaching the second floor of local businesses.
Water levels of the Richmond River, in the nearby town of Woodburn, rose so quickly on Monday that dozens of cars became trapped on a bridge. With both ends of the bridge underwater, travelers, several of whom had horses, emerged from their vehicles looking for help.
The 50 people who were trapped by the water were rescued from the bridge early Tuesday, officials said.
“We had no capabilities to get them off in the dark so we just had to make sure that they bunkered down and we went in this morning and got them all out,” Woodburn State Emergency Services Commander Ashley Slapp told the AP.
Monday's heavy rainfall triggered a landslide and made a roadway impassable in the area of Ramornie National Park. In Mitchelton, a suburb of Brisbane, heavy rains destroyed a soccer pitch, leaving the artificial turf playing surface ripped and in a wrinkled mess.
A soccer pitch was damaged after heavy rain triggered flash flooding in Mitchelton, Queensland, on Feb. 28.
Meanwhile, Sydney reported just over 9 inches (about 230 mm) of rain during the final week of February, which is almost three times the normal amount of rain the city receives for the entire month. AccuWeather meteorologists say more rain is on the way for the Harbour City and others across eastern Australia.
"Rounds of rain are expected to continue up and down the Queensland and New South Wales coasts into the end of the week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Roys warned that several more inches (up to 100 mm) of rain could fall anywhere along the coast.
According to the AP, this is the worst flooding the region has seen since a 2011 event that was described as a once-in-a-century event. Jonathan Howe, a meteorologist for Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), described the flooding as "astronomical."
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Before the heavy rain shifted southward into New South Wales, AccuWeather reported early this week that rainfall amounts of 24.1 inches (611.6 mm) descended on the Brisbane area. This broke the record for the highest three-day rainfall in the city's recorded history. The city's previous rain record for a three-day period was 23.6 inches (600.4 mm) in 1974.
“It’s unrelenting. It’s just coming down in buckets. It’s not a waterfall, it’s like waves of water just coming down,” Annastacia Palaszczuk, the premier of Queensland, told the Brisbane Times.
The deluge left few areas untouched by floodwaters, with scenes of submerged vehicles common throughout the region. Reuters reported that more than 1,400 homes in Brisbane were at risk of flooding, while tens of thousands of power outages have been reported.
The torrent of water swamped local rivers, sending dozens into major flood stage. By Monday morning, local time, the major flood levels peaked on the Brisbane River during high tide at 12.63 feet (3.85 meters), according to the BOM. The raging water sent debris into boardwalks and eateries that line the river.
For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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News / Severe Weather
Death toll rises following historic flooding in Australia
Half a million people could face evacuation orders in the days to come as additional rain douses the flood-weary region.
By Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Mar 1, 2022 2:19 PM EST | Updated Mar 3, 2022 8:07 AM EST
Homes and roads were fully engulfed by floodwaters in Lismore, New South Wales, on March 1. Heavy rain and flooding will continue over the next two days, moving south toward Sydney.
Recovery efforts continue in eastern Australia following days of excessive rainfall across the states of Queensland and New South Wales that left thousands of properties and entire neighborhoods underwater. More rain is on the way for some of the hardest-hit areas, AccuWeather forecasters say, and local officials warn that half a million people could face evacuation orders in the days to come.
As of Thursday, the rising waters had resulted in at least 14 deaths, and thousands were under evacuation orders, according to The Associated Press.
"We do believe that things will get worse before they get better in the state," Dominic Perrottet, Premier of New South Wales, said via Reuters.
Emergency departments deployed boats to help rescue residents from the rising floodwaters and helicopters airlifted those who were stranded on rooftops.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, said the government will continue to focus on the emergency response to the flooding in New South Wales and Queensland.
One of the hardest-hit cities was Lismore, a city in the northeastern corner of New South Wales, approximately 125 miles (200 km) south of Brisbane. In downtown Lismore, streets became raging rivers as harrowing video taken in the area captured water levels approaching the second floor of local businesses.
Water levels of the Richmond River, in the nearby town of Woodburn, rose so quickly on Monday that dozens of cars became trapped on a bridge. With both ends of the bridge underwater, travelers, several of whom had horses, emerged from their vehicles looking for help.
The 50 people who were trapped by the water were rescued from the bridge early Tuesday, officials said.
“We had no capabilities to get them off in the dark so we just had to make sure that they bunkered down and we went in this morning and got them all out,” Woodburn State Emergency Services Commander Ashley Slapp told the AP.
Monday's heavy rainfall triggered a landslide and made a roadway impassable in the area of Ramornie National Park. In Mitchelton, a suburb of Brisbane, heavy rains destroyed a soccer pitch, leaving the artificial turf playing surface ripped and in a wrinkled mess.
A soccer pitch was damaged after heavy rain triggered flash flooding in Mitchelton, Queensland, on Feb. 28.
Meanwhile, Sydney reported just over 9 inches (about 230 mm) of rain during the final week of February, which is almost three times the normal amount of rain the city receives for the entire month. AccuWeather meteorologists say more rain is on the way for the Harbour City and others across eastern Australia.
"Rounds of rain are expected to continue up and down the Queensland and New South Wales coasts into the end of the week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Roys warned that several more inches (up to 100 mm) of rain could fall anywhere along the coast.
According to the AP, this is the worst flooding the region has seen since a 2011 event that was described as a once-in-a-century event. Jonathan Howe, a meteorologist for Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), described the flooding as "astronomical."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Before the heavy rain shifted southward into New South Wales, AccuWeather reported early this week that rainfall amounts of 24.1 inches (611.6 mm) descended on the Brisbane area. This broke the record for the highest three-day rainfall in the city's recorded history. The city's previous rain record for a three-day period was 23.6 inches (600.4 mm) in 1974.
“It’s unrelenting. It’s just coming down in buckets. It’s not a waterfall, it’s like waves of water just coming down,” Annastacia Palaszczuk, the premier of Queensland, told the Brisbane Times.
The deluge left few areas untouched by floodwaters, with scenes of submerged vehicles common throughout the region. Reuters reported that more than 1,400 homes in Brisbane were at risk of flooding, while tens of thousands of power outages have been reported.
The torrent of water swamped local rivers, sending dozens into major flood stage. By Monday morning, local time, the major flood levels peaked on the Brisbane River during high tide at 12.63 feet (3.85 meters), according to the BOM. The raging water sent debris into boardwalks and eateries that line the river.
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For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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