{"id":482030,"date":"2025-12-31T09:01:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/482030\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T09:01:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:01:24","slug":"flooding-claims-a-life-as-deluge-cuts-north-west-queensland-roads-isolates-towns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/482030\/","title":{"rendered":"Flooding claims a life as deluge cuts north-west Queensland roads, isolates towns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Senior police have praised an officer who ignored the threat of crocodiles in a tragic bid to help a driver submerged in floodwaters in Queensland&#8217;s drenched far north.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The region is enduring its fourth day of torrential rain after grim news the flooding had claimed a life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-30\/qld-flood-death-normanton-\/106188576\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106188576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A man in his 70s was found dead<\/a> in a submerged vehicle at Normanton on Tuesday and authorities have urged caution around floodwaters to prevent further tragedies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Mount Isa District Acting Superintendent Paul Austin said a police officer had gone into the water when the vehicle was found to check if the driver was alive. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">He commended the officer&#8217;s &#8220;very brave actions&#8221; in a known crocodile habitat.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;This is a tragic event and just highlights the message that police continue to push out. Don&#8217;t drive through floodwaters,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Gulf Country towns Doomadgee, Burketown, Gregory, Normanton, Karumba, Julia Creek and McKinlay are cut off and communities expect to be isolated for up to a week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said parts of north-west Queensland, including Cloncurry, had received the equivalent of their average annual rainfall in the days since Christmas.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"flood warning map showing major and moderate flooding in north west queensland \" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/feba31663323db38cc5ed6adec685d5a.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Bureau of Meteorology&#8217;s flood warnings map on Tuesday at 4pm.\u00a0 (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">South Mission Beach and Cowley Beach, near Innisfail, have recorded more than a metre of rain in seven days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Since 9am yesterday, the BOM has recorded 413 millimetres in Cowley Beach, 418mm in Mourilyan Bore, 249mm in South Mission Beach and 237mm in Innisfail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">According to the BOM:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>There are two severe weather systems active over Queensland<\/li>\n<li>A tropical low is bringing widespread, heavy rainfall over north-west Queensland<\/li>\n<li>Enhanced onshore winds may develop over parts of the north-east coast, coupled with a very humid air mass that could bring the risk of heavy rainfall<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"tractor tray under water and tree stump surrounded by water\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9b3d655e2ba4db406fb610756f7c6bef.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Properties have been flooded around north-west Queensland. (Supplied: Jacqueline Curley)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Senior meteorologist Harry Clark said the north-west could see further flash flooding and riverine flooding over the next 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;That significant flood risk comes from the fact that we&#8217;ve got heavy rainfall that is forecast to fall across already saturated soil and already flooded rivers,&#8221; Mr Clark said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">He said the drenching would continue across the northern outback before slowly easing at the weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, is forecast to continue on Wednesday and possibly into Thursday for parts of the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West and Central West districts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Widespread six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 to 70mm are likely, with isolated falls of 100mm forecast for multiple areas, including around Winton, Evesham Station, Stamford, Aramac, Muttaburra, Selwyn, McKinlay and Corfield.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a running river crossing\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0b15cb483a747302988e707a742d31e9.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Flooding at Chinaman Creek Dam in Cloncurry. (Supplied: Grace McLauchlan)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">These conditions also present a risk to cattle and other livestock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">However, for the tropical north-east coast, Mr Clark said it was still a &#8220;flip of the coin&#8221; as to whether the worst of the system was over.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;If that trough comes ashore, we could certainly see rainfall totals in excess of 200mm quite quickly in that area between Cairns and Townsville,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;We may have potentially seen the heaviest rainfall already out of this system, but certainly there&#8217;s still the risk of further heavy rain over the next few days.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a drone shot of the cloncurry dam and cloncurry river\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/30f590e1431fc58a64ad229f1e0aae3c.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Cloncurry River has been flowing into Chinaman Creek Dam. (Supplied: Cloncurry Shire Council)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 180mm are likely, including areas around Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Yarrabah, Cardwell, Tully, Rollingstone, Innisfail and Lucinda.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The severe weather is no longer occurring in the Gulf Country district, with the warning cancelled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The SES has received 70 tasks across the state in the 24 hours to 4am with the majority being for tarping and sandbags jobs, including 33 incidents in the Cassowary Coast LGA, 10 in the Townsville LGA, eight in the Cloncurry LGA, five in the Cairns LGA and three in the Mount Isa LGA.<\/p>\n<p>Road closures and river warnings<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The state and federal governments have activated Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for five councils in north Queensland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond shire councils can access the funding to provide local government assistance, including clean-up, emergency road repairs, and repairs to essential public assets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.disaster.qld.gov.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Multiple roads across the state<\/a> are closed, as is the Mount Isa rail line from Hughenden to Cloncurry.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"rail line under water\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fcbca708ac78eaa8a9d7650c49ec4927.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Mount Isa rail line is closed as the Williams River floods. (Supplied: Queensland Rail)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Bruce Highway has reopened, with only one lane access at Seymour River Bridge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Flinders Highway is closed between Cloncurry and Julia Creek and between Richmond and Julia Creek, but open between Hughenden and Richmond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Landsborough Highway remains closed between Cloncurry and Kynuna, and between Kynuna to Winton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Nearly 50 roads across the state have been closed with high priority alerts to flash flooding, long-term flooding or other hazards, while multiple roads have been closed or partially closed due to flooding.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a road closed due to flooding sign in front of a flooded road\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3330a30a8a11001dbc643d9dd08e9317.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Roads are partially submerged around Cloncurry, cutting off motorists. (Supplied: Cloncurry Shire Council)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg warned there may be further road closures depending on the rainfall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;We are expecting king tides later in the week so there may be periods of inundation,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"man in ses uniform looking out, it's raining\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8f415143f0595646682fd8eb006011e1.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The SES has been clearing debris and fallen trees in Mission Beach. (ABC Rural: Sophie Johnson)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Premier David Crisafulli said it was disappointing to hear reports some of the BOM&#8217;s flood gauges were offline during the rain event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;Information in these situations, it&#8217;s life and death for people living in remote communities,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;They need access to information like river heights, like flood gauges, and like proper radars. And when it&#8217;s not there, they have to second guess the way they respond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;But I make the point to the BOM it&#8217;s really vital that that information and that those systems be upgraded, and that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important that Canberra plays its part to being able to properly fund and resource those facilities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"premier david crisafulli in a raincoat speaking on a rainy street\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5410399b0b61d042ba201ca708e86858.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">David Crisafulli speaking in Cloncurry on Wednesday morning. (ABC News: Glenn Mullane)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">More police and State Emergency Service workers are being sent to multiple communities in flood-affected regions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">There is a major flood warning for the Flinders River, with flooding at Walkers Bend, which is expected to remain above the major flood level for the next few days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">There are also multiple moderate flood warnings, including for the Cloncurry River, the Norman River, the Diamantina and Western River and the Georgina River.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Feast or famine&#8217; for farmers<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Canegrowers Innisfail chairman\u00a0Joe Marano said he had recorded over a metre of rainfall on his farm since Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">But he said heavy rain was &#8220;part and parcel&#8221; of life on the tropical coast.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"old man smiling at camera\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9679c626b4f8f91bc5fc0ede396d6056.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">\u00a0Joe Marano says he has had more than a metre of rainfall since Saturday. (ABC Rural: Sophie Johnson)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;We used to have average years but we don&#8217;t seem to have average years anymore, it&#8217;s all feast or famine,&#8221; Mr Marano said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Mr Marano said the sugarcane crops had survived the downpour but now required cloud cover to dry off slowly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;If we keep getting this sort of weather for the next couple of months, it won&#8217;t be any good,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Concerns for livestock<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The prolonged heavy rainfall and below-average temperatures have had many north-west graziers concerned that the weather event could be a repeat of the 2019 flood, which led to devastating stock losses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">McKinlay Shire mayor Janine Feegan said early indications suggested the rain was similar or equal to the 2019 event, but not as widespread.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">She said cattle losses in the shire\u00a0could potentially be a few hundred or thousands but graziers would spend today getting more stock to higher ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Cloncurry<strong> <\/strong>grazier Jacqueline Curley said she felt &#8220;sick in the guts&#8221; watching floodwaters rise in her paddocks.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m terrified for the calves because we just had a huge calving crop,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  she said.<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A person in a raincoat looks at a flooded property.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5cf791c6e731f0f0bad2cf5733bc1fcb.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Heavy rainfall around Cloncurry has flooded Gipsy Plains station. (Supplied: Jacqueline Curley)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Curley&#8217;s Gipsy Plains property flooded earlier this week, as she recorded 525mm of rain in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">However, she was hopeful most of her adult cattle had survived.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell said while it was too early to go out and check paddocks, some residents were &#8220;quietly confident&#8221; they had not lost as many animals as in 2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;The general condition of livestock is markedly different \u2014 we didn&#8217;t endure 40 days over 40 degrees in the lead-up,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"cows in a line walking through water logged plains\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/590a736eb0c51f7504efa9b4ddbce90f.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Cattle on Bow Park station north of Julia Creek search for higher ground. (Supplied: Guy and Deborah Keats)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Senior police have praised an officer who ignored the threat of crocodiles in a tragic bid to help&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":482031,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[87709,35929,746,218248,8580,23935,218247,218246,5569,159,218249,218250,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-482030","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-bureau-of-meteorology","9":"tag-disaster-relief","10":"tag-environment","11":"tag-flood-water-rising","12":"tag-flooding","13":"tag-heavy-rain","14":"tag-northern-queensland","15":"tag-queensland-floods","16":"tag-road-closures","17":"tag-science","18":"tag-severe-weather-system","19":"tag-tropical-low","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-unitedstates","22":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115813370359108436","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482030\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/482031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}