Far north Queensland residents are being told to seek higher ground with warnings of severe weather and heavy rain on the way. The region is bracing for a tropical low to cross the coast but many locals have been told to leave due to flooding.
Police issued a flood emergency warning for the Daintree River at 9.30pm on Thursday, saying flash flooding was occurring and residents should move to safety.
In other areas, sandbag stations were in place on Friday morning with heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds forecast on Friday as the tropical low tracks north-east of Cairns.
Up to 240mm of rain was expected to fall in a six-hour period on Friday, which could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The Daintree ferry came loose from its moorings in the wild conditions. Council and emergency crews planned to attempt to retrieve the vessel once conditions allow, said Douglas shire’s mayor, Lisa Scomazzon.
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“We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding as we continue to deal with a major flooding event that is affecting the entire region,” she said.
A cyclone watch was cancelled on Thursday after the system was considered a very low chance of intensifying before hitting the coast.
The “disconnected” tropical low was likely to reach the coast by Friday afternoon between Cairns and Townsville before moving south-west into central Queensland at the weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines said.
The Cassowary Coast mayor, Teresa Millwood, said emergency services were ready to deploy in Innisfail and Cardwell, and sandbag stations were ready if people needed them.
Residents had been advised to have their emergency plans in place, stock up on supplies and be ready to leave before their homes flooded, she said.
“You never know until it actually happens, but we’re prepared,” she said. “Basically, we just sit back and wait now.”
Hinchinbrook shire’s mayor, Ramon Jayo, said his community had been warned to expect heavy rain and high winds.
“We’ve got a load coming at us … but we’re ready,” he said.
“We just got rid of a major flood last Monday and we’re lining up again for some more flooding.”
The usual warnings about flood waters had gone out to residents who knew the drill, he said.
“They’re restocking their pantries in case they are stranded for a period of time due to flood water.”
Other parts of the state would also bear the brunt of severe weather as the system crossed the coast, Hines said. The coast from Townsville down to Mackay was flagged as an area to watch.
Heavy falls were expected to continue over north Queensland but also to potentially stretch down through the central coast, Capricornia and into the Wide Bay region, around Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
The impacts could also be felt in south-east Queensland at the weekend, Hines said, with residents were asked to keep track of forecasts, especially for rain on Sunday.
