Severe Flooding Disrupts Life in Northern Australia, Five Rescued from Raging Waters

by

Ganpat Singh Chouhan

Severe Flooding Disrupts Life in Northern Australia, Five Rescued from Raging Waters

Sydney, March 7: Severe flooding in Queensland and the Northern Territory has significantly impacted daily life. Amidst the heavy floods, five individuals were rescued, and patients were evacuated from a hospital.

Flood warnings have been issued across much of Queensland due to a slow-moving tropical storm that made landfall on the northeastern coast of the state on Friday afternoon local time. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), this tropical storm is moving westward through central Queensland, bringing heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that five people were rescued overnight in central Queensland. Among them, three individuals were found clinging to a tree after escaping a vehicle caught in the floodwaters.

In the Northern Territory, a separate tropical storm has prompted significant flood warnings for Katherine, a small town located approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Darwin.

The weather department reported a rapid rise in water levels in the Katherine River on Saturday morning. According to the Xinhua news agency, the river’s water level has already surpassed flood stage in the central part of Katherine, with further increases expected throughout the day.

In anticipation of potential flooding, 21 patients, including 20 pregnant women, were transferred from Katherine Hospital to another facility on Friday to avoid complications if the town becomes isolated by floodwaters.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro arrived in the town on Friday night, urging residents to heed emergency warnings.

Earlier, on March 6, severe weather warnings were issued in Queensland due to the threat of dangerous flash floods as a storm approached the northeastern coast. The weather department cautioned that this tropical storm could bring heavy rain to a coastal area spanning approximately 350 kilometers in far northern Queensland.

The warned areas include the northeastern coastal towns of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown, which have a combined population of around 255,000.

Leave a Comment

BREAKING NEWS: