One Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Heavy Rains Continue

Queensland Floods Claim One Life, Thousands Evacuated

Heavy flooding in the Australian state of Queensland has tragically claimed one life, with authorities urging thousands of residents to move to higher ground due to torrential rains.

The coastal Hinchinbrook Shire, a locality of around 11,000 people located about 310 miles north of Brisbane, is experiencing major flooding. Several suburbs in the nearby city of Townsville are also impacted.

North Queensland is a major mining region, with Townsville serving as a processing center for base metals like zinc, silver, lead, copper, and iron ore. In 2019, severe floods in the area disrupted lead and zinc concentrate rail shipments and caused significant property damage.

Regional emergency management authorities issued a stark warning on Sunday morning, urging residents in low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground. "This situation may pose a threat to life and property," they stated.

The flooding is attributed to a low-pressure system carrying heavy tropical moisture. Australia's weather forecaster reported 24-hour rainfall totals of up to 11.8 inches, with the potential for further heavy rainfall and damaging winds in the coming days.

Australia's east has experienced frequent flooding in recent years, including the "once in a century" floods that inundated the neighboring Northern Territory in January 2023 during a multi-year La Nina weather event.