Heavy monsoonal rains have led to tragic flooding in far north Queensland, resulting in the death of a man in his 70s. His body was discovered in a submerged vehicle in Normanton on Tuesday, as emergency services continued to navigate dangerous conditions, including crocodile-infested waters. The situation remains dire, with numerous roads closed and communities isolated due to rising floodwaters.
Acting Superintendent Paul Austin of the Mount Isa District commended the bravery of an officer who entered the perilous waters to assist in the recovery operation. “The SES operator was able to align their vessel with the submerged car, and one of the police officers entered into a significant depth and was able to get into the vehicle and recover the deceased male,” he stated. He emphasized the complexity of the operation, particularly given the presence of large crocodiles in the area.
The local community is mourning the loss, with David Crisafulli, the Queensland premier, describing it as “a deep tragedy for the North West community.” He highlighted the importance of infrastructure recovery, stating, “We have to make sure that people remain connected.” The impact of the flooding on local infrastructure is significant, and repairs will be a priority.
Mayor Janene Fegan of McKinlay Shire indicated that it could take weeks to fully assess the damage and livestock losses. Conditions improved only on Wednesday, allowing graziers to deploy helicopters to evaluate their properties. “We just don’t know officially yet – it’s just sitting and waiting but it doesn’t look good in parts of the north-west of our shire,” she noted. Reports suggest that water levels are alarmingly high, with some areas potentially exceeding those seen in 2019.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for isolated heavy rainfall, predicting falls of up to 100 mm in the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders regions. Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury indicated that while rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue, conditions should begin to ease by late this weekend into early next week.
Disaster relief has been activated for five councils in north Queensland in response to the extensive flooding caused by monsoonal rains over the Christmas period. The region is now in recovery mode, as officials and residents alike grapple with the aftermath of the flooding.
In Western Australia, emergency services are assessing damage resulting from ex-tropical cyclone Hayley, which made landfall as a category three storm on the Dampier Peninsula on Tuesday. Winds reached speeds of 158 km/h, accompanied by 132 mm of rainfall. Fortunately, there have been no reports of major damage or injuries, providing a slight reprieve for affected communities.
As Queensland continues to face the challenges of flooding, the focus remains on both immediate recovery efforts and long-term infrastructure resilience.