Queensland Floods Cause Unprecedented Damage, Says Premier

Premier David Crisafulli highlighted the shocking level of devastation while mentioning improving weather conditions.

Flooding in Queensland has left a trail of "incredible" destruction across northern communities, as emphasized by Premier David Crisafulli during a recent ABC interview. While conditions are reportedly easing sooner than expected, thousands of residents who evacuated their homes are gradually making their return on Tuesday. However, concerns loom over the fate of numerous residences and businesses that may have suffered from inundation.

Since Saturday, some areas have recorded nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet) of rainfall, leading to continual flood warnings and widespread blackouts. In Townsville, locals experienced a notably calmer morning with merely drizzle and a fortunate outcome regarding anticipated flooding levels, which fell short of earlier predictions. This positive shift has led Premier Crisafulli to comment that the citizens in six Townsville suburbs may have "dodged a bullet" following earlier forecasts indicating that around 1,700 homes were at risk.

Nevertheless, areas further north, such as Ingham and Cardwell, are facing difficulties due to damaged roads and disrupted communication lines, complicating damage assessments. As Crisafulli noted, "The more information that comes through, the more it appears there is real devastation," reflecting on his own experiences growing up in Ingham and describing relentless floodwaters invading businesses in high-ground areas where such an event seemed unfathomable.

As of now, more than 8,000 properties remain without power due to the impact on infrastructure, and the partial collapse of a crucial highway is impeding recovery efforts for the hardest-hit regions. The premier concluded by asserting that the ongoing recovery process will "take some time."