A North Queensland swiftwater rescue crew confronts the submerged Farraday Bridge. Photo: QFES/Tomas Neville
Police are investigating the flood-related death of a woman in Ingham, Far North Qld, yesterday (Sunday) as emergency financial relief was announced.
Police say that at about 9.20am, a State Emergency Service (SES) boat with six residents and volunteers onboard struck a tree in flood waters on Rutledge Street and flipped.
A nearby resident immediately helped five persons safely into his vessel and none sustained serious injury, Qld police said.
But a short time later, the body of the sixth passenger, a 63-year-old woman, was found nearby. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says aircraft and drones have been deployed as have the Australian Defence Force.
As of 5.50pm yesterday (Sunday), an emergency flood warning was issued by Townsville Local Disaster Management Group for suburbs in the Ross River Black Zone. This includes Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea.
Residents were warned last yesterday that it was not safe to return with dangerous flooding under way.
Power and water were restored to Magnetic Island late Sunday afternoon, police said.
As of 11.58pm on Sunday, an emergency flooding alert was declared for Cardwell in the Cassowary Coast with residents in low-lying areas urged to move to higher/safer ground.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said yesterday coastal flooding was expected along the coast from Mackay up to Cairns.
Major flooding was expected around the Ross and Bohle rivers in Townsville, a BoM spokesman said.
Major flooding at the Aplins Weir at the Ross River Dam may have prompted a controlled release and resulted in rises along the Ross River.
The spokesman says heavy flooding upstream was hitting towns like Ingham, close to the coast.
More intense rainfall was expected from around Cardwell, north of Ingham, down to Ayr, south of Townsville.
The BoM spokesman said 280mm of rain in six hours was possible.
FUNDING HELP
The federal and Queensland governments also extended disaster relief payments to flood-affected residents in North Queensland.
Directly-affected residents in Hinchinbrook and Palm Island council areas, as well as areas of Townsville and Gordonvale residents, can apply for grants of $180 per person, and up to $900 for families of five or more.
The Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook and Tablelands councils have also been tapped for financial help with their counter-disaster operations and reconstruction.
The assistance is provided by the federal Queensland governments under the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister urged flood-affected Hinchinbrook and Palm Island residents, and those in activated areas of Townsville and Gordonvale, to visit the Queensland disaster recovery support website or call 1800 173 349 to check their eligibility and apply.
Eligible residents can apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the the state government’s recovery hotline on 1800 173 349.
For flood assistance, contact the SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, dial Triple-Zero (000).
