One Dead, Thousands Urged to Evacuate Amid Heavy Flooding in Australia’s Northeast


Brisbane: One person died on Sunday in north Queensland amid heavy flooding, the Australian authorities said. The authorities urged thousands of people to move to higher ground due to torrential rains.



According to Qatar News Agency, the Queensland authorities reported major flooding in coastal Hinchinbrook Shire, a locality of around 11,000 people located about 500km north of the state capital, Brisbane. Several suburbs close to Townsville city were also impacted, the authorities said.



The flooding was triggered by heavy rain from a low pressure system rich in tropical moisture, Australia’s weather forecaster said, adding that 24-hour rainfall totals were likely up to 11.8 inches. “The potential for heavy, locally intense rainfall and damaging winds may continue into early next week, subject to the strength and position of the trough and low,” it said.



Frequent flooding has hit Australia’s east in recent years including “once in a century” floods that inundated neighbouring Northern Territory in January 2023 during a multi-year La Nina weather event.