Hundreds of homes under threat amid rising floodwaters
Thousands of people could be isolated for days in a sodden community after rising floodwaters triggered emergency alerts and memories of a 2010 disaster.
Source: Bundaberg MP Tom Smith
Hundreds of homes are at risk as rising floodwaters peak at historic levels in the Queensland regional hub of Bundaberg.
Thousands of people could be isolated for days after the Burnett River burst its banks, triggering memories of a 2010 disaster.
More than 400 homes and businesses are under threat, with the river expected to peak at 7.6 metres early on Wednesday.
It is only just below the 7.92-metre levels of 16 years ago, when the city of more than 70,000 people was inundated and hundreds forced to evacuate.
Locals were asked to leave immediately late on Tuesday before the town’s two major bridges were shut down, leaving about 10,000 people isolated — potentially for several days.
Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn acknowledged the mental health impacts on people who had been caught up in previous floods and implored them to put their personal safety first.
“We’re not new to this, we’ve done it before,” she said.
Stay informed, daily
“We can replace possessions. We can’t replace people.”
Water rescue crews and extra emergency services, including more than 30 police, have been sent to the Bundaberg region in preparation.
Almost 800 roads across Queensland have been cut by floodwaters after a tropical low left a trail of destruction, claiming about 1000 livestock.
-with AAP
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
