Relentless rain wreaks havoc across Australia’s east; people advised to move to higher ground

SYDNEY – Heavy rain triggered flash flooding across parts of Australia’s east on Jan 2, inundating roads, cutting off towns and damaging properties, as the authorities advised residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.

Several regions across south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales have picked up at least two months’ worth of rainfall

over the last three days.

Springbrook in Queensland received 514mm of rain over the last 48 hours, more than double the January average.

Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick urged people to stay off roads until the weather cleared.

“Roads will be dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding could occur in places you don’t anticipate,” he said during a press briefing.

Rainfall of up to 350mm is forecast over the next 24 hours, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe-weather warning stretching over 250km across the Wide Bay Burnett region and south-east of Queensland.

“With these quick bursts of intense rainfall, the rivers and creeks are rising extremely quickly and catching people unaware,” said Queensland emergency services deputy commissioner Kevin Walsh. “The next 24 hours are important.”

In neighbouring New South Wales state, dozens of people were rescued from camping sites, which usually become crowded during the holiday weeks, cut off by flood waters.

Television footage showed rescue crews wading through waist-high water, cars stuck in flood waters, fallen trees on top of roofs and water running through houses.

Some regions pounded by the wild weather had already been hit by another

storm over the Christmas holidays

that killed 10 people and knocked off power for tens of thousands. About 11,000 properties are still without power.

Climate change has amplified Australia’s weather extremes in recent years, experts say.

The El Nino weather phenomenon, which can provoke wildfires, cyclones and prolonged drought, is also affecting the country during its December to February summer. REUTERS