The death toll from Queensland's flash flooding soared to nine today as dire warnings were given that the number of victims could rise significantly, causing thousands to pour out of the major city of Brisbane. A frightening wall of water was heading towards Australia's third largest city, which has a population of 2 million, resulting in people fleeing from the business district to find higher ground as the Wivenhoe dam failed to control the floods. At least 66 people remain missing from the flash flood that struck without warning in the city of Toowoomba, 70 miles west of Brisbane, carrying away families, buildings and cars - but grave fears were held for the residents of smaller towns in the nearby Lockyer Valley. Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, warning that the upper reaches of the Brisbane River had burst their banks and water was heading rapidly towards the city, said that an estimated 6500 properties will be flooded in his city. Lord Mayor Newman described the situation as 'very serious' and explained that the next few days will see a large-scale disaster unfolding across the city, ahead of an expected peak in the Brisbane River on Thursday. He said: 'Wednesday is going to be bad and Thursday is going to be desperate. Thousands of homes will be affected.' The Wivenhoe dam, built after the infamous 1974 floods to protect Brisbane, is currently full, and dam managers have no choice but to continue with increased, controlled releases. 'It's going to come down the river to the city of Brisbane and there's not much dam managers can do about that,' said Newman. (Daily Mail)Tuesday 11 January 2011
Brisbane mayor orders residents to evacuate as dam struggles to hold wall of water which has killed nine in Queensland
The death toll from Queensland's flash flooding soared to nine today as dire warnings were given that the number of victims could rise significantly, causing thousands to pour out of the major city of Brisbane. A frightening wall of water was heading towards Australia's third largest city, which has a population of 2 million, resulting in people fleeing from the business district to find higher ground as the Wivenhoe dam failed to control the floods. At least 66 people remain missing from the flash flood that struck without warning in the city of Toowoomba, 70 miles west of Brisbane, carrying away families, buildings and cars - but grave fears were held for the residents of smaller towns in the nearby Lockyer Valley. Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, warning that the upper reaches of the Brisbane River had burst their banks and water was heading rapidly towards the city, said that an estimated 6500 properties will be flooded in his city. Lord Mayor Newman described the situation as 'very serious' and explained that the next few days will see a large-scale disaster unfolding across the city, ahead of an expected peak in the Brisbane River on Thursday. He said: 'Wednesday is going to be bad and Thursday is going to be desperate. Thousands of homes will be affected.' The Wivenhoe dam, built after the infamous 1974 floods to protect Brisbane, is currently full, and dam managers have no choice but to continue with increased, controlled releases. 'It's going to come down the river to the city of Brisbane and there's not much dam managers can do about that,' said Newman. (Daily Mail)