Open the gates: Dam releases begin as north Queensland deluge claims its first life
A woman has died after the car she was in became submerged in floodwaters triggered by days of torrential rain in north Queensland.
Several south east Queensland dams have opened their spill gates ahead of another wet day Sunday Image: SEQWater.
The woman became trapped in the vehicle with two other people on Surprise Creek Rd at Mount Ossa, north of Mackay, about 5am on Wednesday.
Following a search and rescue by police the 31-year-old woman’s body was found in the vehicle at 8am.
The two others escaped from the car and were transported in a stable condition to Mackay Base Hospital.
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Queensland Police said one of the people who survived was treated for a cut to their head, while the other did not suffer any injuries.
“This tragedy serves as a stark reminder to Queenslanders of the dangers of weather events,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in parliament on Wednesday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services received 110 calls for help across the state as six-hour rainfall totals reached 240mm in some areas of the north by 1am on Wednesday.
“Although rain is expected to move off the coast in the state’s north today, a large number of roads remain flooded,” QFES said in a statement.
“Please avoid unnecessary travel and don’t risk it on flooded roads and causeways.
“If it’s flooded, forget it.”
There are major flood warnings in place across north and western Queensland at the Bohle River near Townsville, Haughton River and Cooper Creek.
Over 24 hours, 244mm of rainfall was recorded at Mourilyan Mill, south of Innisfail, with Paluma registering 180mm.
The weather bureau advised heavy rainfall may develop again on Wednesday over eastern parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin as well as the northern Central Coast and Whitsundays.
It is expected to ease later on Wednesday as the rain moves offshore.
On Tuesday, rainfall records tumbled at the Hughenden, Richmond and Cloncurry airports as those inland regions recorded their highest May totals ever.
Townsville experienced flash flooding overnight with police officers temporarily stranded in Kirwan as waters rose around the station.
The city expects totals up to 250mm on Wednesday and Thursday with the severe weather warning indicating up to 200mm in a six-hour period.
“That whole area under the severe weather warning could see flash and riverine flooding,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Laura Boekel said on Tuesday.
A flood watch is current for dozens of river and creek catchments across Queensland and almost 300 roads have been cut by floodwaters.
In the southeast, heavy rain hit the Sunshine Coast and northern Brisbane, with 135mm falling at Mapleton and 113mm at Maleny.
“If you are on the road this morning take extra care and plan your drive. If you come across floodwater, back it up and find an alternate route,” QFES said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
“With the ground already saturated and further heavy rainfall possible there is a risk of flash flooding today and over the coming days.”
Seqwater has alerted Moreton Bay region residents it has started flood releases from North Pine Dam, with releases also set to start from Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams into the Brisbane River from 10am.
The utility expects the releases to flood Savages Crossing, Colleges Crossing, Burtons Bridge and Kholo Bridge downstream, but not Fernvale Bridge.
“If you are downstream of the dam, stay away from fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains,” Seqwater said.
