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Heavy rain prompts evacuation alerts in Queensland as fires rage in Victoria Heavy rain prompts evacuation alerts in Queensland as fires rage in Victoria
(about 3 hours later)
Multiple rescues as police advise residents in Queensland’s west to enact emergency plans, while firefighters battle blazes in VictoriaMultiple rescues as police advise residents in Queensland’s west to enact emergency plans, while firefighters battle blazes in Victoria
A teenager swept into a drain is among those rescued from flooding overnight, while residents in two regions of Queensland’s west have been put on alert to evacuate as more rain is expected across the state A teenager is lucky to have survived being sucked into a drain by flood waters as a rain-hit state braces for more wet weather.
Police have told people living in the Western Downs and South Burnett regions to be prepared to evacuate homes ahead of possible inundation. The 15-year-old boy was pulled into a stormwater drain in far north Queensland, prompting a warning from authorities with showers set to continue.
“Residents in low-lying areas should PREPARE NOW,” Queensland police said in an alert early on Thursday. Police on Thursday released footage of an officer arriving moments after the teen went missing in Mareeba as concerned children stood by the flooded drain.
“Warn neighbours, secure belongings and enact your emergency plan.” The boy luckily re-emerged a few streets away with cuts and grazes.
The incident on Tuesday has prompted a plea for people to stay away from flood waters and not drive through submerged roads.
“We were lucky on that occasion that that boy came out with some scratches and bruises,” state disaster coordinator, Shane Chelepye said on Thursday.
“We do not want to see bad outcomes from kids playing in flood waters – you just do not know what is under that water.”
He said many people had already been rescued from flood waters, with police releasing video of passengers in submerged cars in Goldsborough in the far north.
“We are only early in the season and we have already seen risky behaviour being undertaken with people driving through flood waters,” Chelepy said.
In the state’s north, residents were preparing for torrential downpours with a storm system set to form off the coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned a trough off the coast of Townsville would drift north from Thursday and linger for days.
The bureau said it was unlikely the tropical low would develop into the season’s first cyclone, now a less than 5% chance.
Daily rainfall totals up to 60mm were forecast for the north on Thursday and up to 80mm on Friday, with heavier localised falls of up to 200mm predicted.
“Localised river level rises and flash flooding are likely within the areas of heaviest rainfall, with isolated minor riverine flooding possible,” the bureau said.
Farther south, residents were waiting for flood waters to subside after being asked to prepare to evacuate in the Western Downs and South Burnett, west of Brisbane.
The Western Downs’ mayor, Andrew Smith, said the council was monitoring the situation in Jandowae, after the local dam started spilling overnight.
“We still have water coming into the dam. It is very much a watch and see,” he told ABC Radio earlier on Thursday.
A major flood warning was issued for downstream of the Logan River at Beaudesert, which was subsiding on Thursday afternoon.
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The Western Downs’ mayor, Andrew Smith, said the council was monitoring the situation in Jandowae, after the local dam started spilling overnight. It follows days of heavy rain across southeast Queensland that caused flooding, power outages and affected the Australia-India cricket Test at the Gabba.
“We still have water coming into the dam. It is very much a watch and see,” he told ABC Radio. The State Emergency Service received 145 calls for help in the last 24 hours, with 25 of those in Brisbane and another 23 farther north in the Moreton Bay region.
“We’ll wait and see what unfolds during the day but I think the forecasts are very favourable.” The SES said the majority were for sandbagging and tarping with 10% for felled trees.
It came after police said a 15-year-old boy was rescued from stormwater drain in Mareeba, in far north Queensland, on Wednesday. BoM senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said Brisbane had likely seen the back of several days of heavy rain, but the northern part of the state – north of St Lawrence – still faced the risk of heavy rainfall on Thursday.
Police said the teen was swept into a stormwater drain on the intersection of James and Basalt Street by rising water, before he was found on Reynolds Street – some distance away.
He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Acting sergeant Daley Boney said the incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers of flood waters.
On Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a major flood warning for the Logan River, south of Brisbane, but that has since been downgraded to a minor flood warning after waters peaked on Thursday morning.
The bureau still warns that minor flooding is possible at Maclean Bridge on Thursday afternoon.
There is also a moderate flood warning active for the Brisbane River, due to the potential for flooding at Gregor Creek. SeqWater reports Wivenhoe Dam is 91.6% full. The Mary River is also subject to a moderate flood warning.
BoM senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said Brisbane has likely seen the back of several days of heavy rain, but the northern part of the state – north of St Lawrence – still faced the risk of heavy rainfall on Thursday.
“And then tomorrow, the area where we could see some possibly heavy rainfall just sort of contracts a little bit northwards away from Mackay and into mainly northern Queensland,” Hadley said.“And then tomorrow, the area where we could see some possibly heavy rainfall just sort of contracts a little bit northwards away from Mackay and into mainly northern Queensland,” Hadley said.
There was also the risk of a broad trough forming into a tropical low over the next 24 hours, but the bureau believed it has a low chance of forming a tropical cyclone.There was also the risk of a broad trough forming into a tropical low over the next 24 hours, but the bureau believed it has a low chance of forming a tropical cyclone.
It came as two vehicles were caught up in flash flooding west of Brisbane on Wednesday night.It came as two vehicles were caught up in flash flooding west of Brisbane on Wednesday night.
A man, a woman and a child were rescued by a Queensland Fire and Rescue crew after the vehicles were inundated on the Murgon-Gayndah Road in Merlwood, at about 7.30pm.A man, a woman and a child were rescued by a Queensland Fire and Rescue crew after the vehicles were inundated on the Murgon-Gayndah Road in Merlwood, at about 7.30pm.
The cars, about 50m apart from each other, were reportedly hit by the same sudden flash flood, but the water had subsided sufficiently to allow them to be walked to higher ground.The cars, about 50m apart from each other, were reportedly hit by the same sudden flash flood, but the water had subsided sufficiently to allow them to be walked to higher ground.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle blazes across Victoria on Thursday. Meanwhile, firefighters continued to battle blazes across Victoria on Thursday.
VicEmergency issued a watch and act message for the Grampians, Mirranatwa, Victoria Valley and Jimmy Creek areas, in the west of the state.VicEmergency issued a watch and act message for the Grampians, Mirranatwa, Victoria Valley and Jimmy Creek areas, in the west of the state.
A bushfire burning in the Grampians national park was not yet under control on Thursday morning, with residents asked to prepare to leave.A bushfire burning in the Grampians national park was not yet under control on Thursday morning, with residents asked to prepare to leave.
– With AAP