April Glover 9news.com.au Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:11 UTC
Large parts of North Queensland have been smashed with 300m of rainfall and flash flooding today, leaving roads swamped and homes damaged.
Townsville was in the firing line as relentless rainfall closed roads, inundated homes and destroyed cars.
An elderly man had to be helped by neighbours after he took a fall in floodwaters in Townsville, after the sudden rain caught many residents by surprise.
A shopping centre carpark was also flooded with a wall of water today and the rain cut access to crucial roads and closed down schools.
Ingham was also hit with flooding and two elderly women needed to be rescued from their cars.
Queensland Police said the SES responded to nine call-outs earlier today related to inundation.
The severe deluge has also triggered fears of melioidosis, a deadly bacterial infection born from dirty floodwaters.
Queensland Health recorded 111 melioidosis cases as of March 2, more than three times the number for the same period in 2024, with the majority in Cairns and Townsville.
The rainfall may have eased but a major flooding threat remains ongoing across the state's north.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the heavier rain has moved down to Queensland's south-east.
There are still large amounts of water in catchments and a major flood warning has been issued for the Bohle River, west of Townsville.
The BoM said wet conditions may persist over the next few days but it won't be anywhere near as heavy or widespread as today's weather.
The Hinchinbrook has again been struck by floodwaters, with the Lower Herbert experiencing "major flooding".
In the latest developments, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the swollen Herbert River has reached major flood levels at Halifax.
The river has already breached its banks at Cordelia, although properties are yet to be directly threatened.
"Heavy rainfall since Wednesday afternoon has caused river and creek level rises across the Herbert River catchment, with the heaviest falls concentrated in the lower part of the catchment," BOM warned just before 4pm on Thursday.
"Major flooding continues at Halifax."
The flood level does not constitute a threat to property.
BOM said river levels at both the Ingham Pump Station and Gairloch have peaked at the moderate flood level on Thursday afternoon.
"Further moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for the remainder of Thursday into Friday, which may cause further river level rises across the Herbert River catchment," BOM said.
"This situation is being closely monitored, and warnings will be updated as necessary."
The Bruce Highway has been severed at the now notorious Seymour River Bridge to the north of Ingham, after only reopening yesterday afternoon.
Ingham, meanwhile, has been cut off to the north and south after torrential overnight downpours.
An incredible 453mm was recorded in the area at Cardwell Gap at the Cardwell Range in the last 24 hours as of Thursday morning.
Comment: Update March 20
The Advertiser reports: A report of the earlier flooding in February: North Queensland in Australia cops yet more major flooding