Flooding in North Queensland brings the prospect of crocodiles entering suburban areas
© 9NewsFlooding in North Queensland brings the prospect of crocodiles entering suburban areas
One person has died in the major flooding event smashing North Queensland as residents are warned things could get worse with water and power supply being affected.

An emergency alert was issued for the Bluewater area at 2.41pm on Sunday as heavy rainfall continues across the far northern parts of the state.

Anyone in the Bluewater area is being told to leave immediately due to the emergency flood warning.

"Dangerous flooding happening now at Bluewater," the alert stated.

"Leave immediately if safe to do so or move to higher ground."

Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the death on Sunday morning.




The woman died when an SES boat capsized in the area of Ingham about 9am Sunday, 100km north of Townsville.

Five other people in the boat were rescued. The deceased person was not an SES member, a police spokesman said.

It comes as an emergency alert for water advice was issued for Magnetic Island by the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group at 11.30am on Sunday.

"There has been a disruption to the power and water supply to Magnetic Island," the alert stated.

"Please conserve your water use immediately to emergency use only - drinking and toilets."

The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for areas around Paluma about 2pm on Sunday.

Intense rainfall is forecast that may produce dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.

The area has already recorded 175mm in the last three hours.

Major flooding is also expected for along the Burdekin River to Burdekin Falls Dam from Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Mr Crisafulli also said the Ingham power substation would be shut off.

It comes as a major flood warning was issued on Sunday for the Herbert River, which is approaching flood levels seen in March 1967 at InghamPumpStation of 15.2m.

Power has also been lost at Queensland's largest Indigenous community, Palm Island, which is home to roughly 2000 people.

Mr Crisafulli said there were "well over" 2000 Townsville homes are without power too.

Mr Crisafulli warned north Queensland residents that rain, flooding, power outages and critical infrastructure damage could get worse and urged them to listen to the emergency advice.

"This is a serious event, we're asking people to heed the advice," he said.

Speaking about Ingham specifically - which is the Premier's hometown - Mr Crisafulli described the flooding as monsoonal and a "once in a century occurrence".

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting the deluge will continue into Monday, as various parts of the coast between Tully and Ayr recording over 300mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy, speaking to media less than two hours after the woman died near Ingham, would not elaborate on details.
NQ RAINFALL TOTALS

Rain from 9am Friday to 9am Sunday

Rollingstone 999mm

Deeragun 666mm

Ingham 662mm

Saunders Creek 655mm

Townsville 545mm

Ayr 402mm

Innisfail 259mm

Mackay 184mm

Cairns 82mm
"I don't have the specifics and that's why it's going to be investigated," he said.

"We are responding in flood waters, rapidly evolving floodwaters to support members of the community. And these are dangerous situations.

"There's debris in the waters. They are dangerous operations that our emergency services and our emergency volunteers are carrying out."

Government emergency payments of $180 will available, up to $900 for a family of five or more people.

The latest forecasts spell more trouble for the region.

Senior bureau meteorologist, Dean Narramore, said even when the rain eases slightly from Tuesday, it would not stop.


"Unfortunately this rain will continue all today and tonight, we are really concerned about residents and communities living on or near rivers, creeks and streams from the Herbert River al the way down to Townsville, as we are likely to see further rainfall today and tonight," he said about midday Sunday.

"Tomorrow, some lighter rain, but still widespread rain with local heavy falls likely between again, that Tully to Ayr region, and then finally easing maybe into Monday evening or Monday night.

"Through Tuesday and Wednesday, areas of rain, showers and thunderstorms across much of northern Queensland, including the already flood-affected areas. Unfortunately we still have a couple of days to go of rainfall," he said.

EARLIER

Thousands of Queenslanders are being told to take shelter now or evacuate as part of the state is pummelled by heavy rain.

The warning has been issued as tropical lows cause widespread rainfall around north Queensland, leading to warnings of dangerous and life-threatening flooding reaching up to two storey floors after a days-long deluge.

Heavy rain continues to hammer areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and North Tropical Coast, extending from Mackay to south of Cairns.

The Paluma Dam, north of Townsville, has now recorded 717mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

A "black zone" has been declared in the Townsville suburbs of Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea; Residents have been warned the Ross River is rising fast and there will be dangerous and life-threatening flooding.

"Residents need to leave as soon as it is safe to do so, before 12 noon Sunday. If you do not leave it may become too dangerous for emergency services to rescue you," warnings from emergency services say.

A warning was also issued for the Hinchinbrook Shire, directly north of Townsville, about 4.30am Queensland time on Sunday.

"Dangerous flooding happening now," the warning reads.

"Ingham Pump Station forecast to reach 15 metres early afternoon, 2 February 2025. 1967 floods peaked at 15.2 meters. Ingham Showgrounds Evacuation Centre open.

"If it is too dangerous to leave, get up as high as you can."

Hundreds of millimetres of rain have fallen across North Queensland in the past 24 hours after an almost week-long downpour.

Townsville residents are reporting fallen trees as heavy winds hit the area too.

Ingham, home to 5000 people, 100km north of Townsville, has been cut off by flood waters. Running just north of Ingham, the Herbert River has well and truly burst.

The Bureau of Meteorology says at one crossing - the Abergowrie Bridge - water is at 16.15 metres, above the major flood level of 14 metres.

"The Herbert River at Abergowrie Bridge may reach around 17.00 metres Sunday morning," a bureau warning states.

"Further rises are possible with forecast rainfall. This is higher than the flood level in March 2018 that reached 16.80 metres."

Back in Townsville, residents of six suburbs on the city's flood plain have been told to evacuate.

The affected area is the low lying section on the eastern side of the city, which will be inundated when the Ross River breaks.

"Flooding above ground floor level is likely in some places," the Townsville City Council warns.

"With forecast rainfall, the Ross River at Aplin Weir is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (1.60m) Sunday morning, and is likely to exceed the major flood level (1.80m) around midday Sunday," the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.

"Earlier rises to major flood levels are possible if intense rainfall eventuates Sunday morning.
Further rises are expected across the next few days."