Flood waters washing through Australia's third-largest city have submerged entire neighbourhoods and caused damage one official likened to the aftermath of war. The death toll from the Queensland flooding is currently at 25 - and looks set to increase as the water recedes to reveal the corpses of missing people. One man died in Brisbane after being sucked into a storm drain by the muddy waters, Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh said.Thousands of homes were swamped, and officials told residents it will be days before many of them can return to their houses. Others were told their homes will never be habitable again. In one spot of bright news, the swollen Brisbane River's peak was about a metre lower than predicted, at a depth slightly below that of 1974 floods that swept the city. The river had already begun to recede by Thursday afternoon, though it was expected to stay high for several days. Waters in some areas had reached the tops of roofs, shut down roads and power, and devastated entire neighbourhoods. (Daily Mail)Thursday, 13 January 2011
The city that drowned: 25 dead and dozens missing as flood waters swallow up Brisbane
Flood waters washing through Australia's third-largest city have submerged entire neighbourhoods and caused damage one official likened to the aftermath of war. The death toll from the Queensland flooding is currently at 25 - and looks set to increase as the water recedes to reveal the corpses of missing people. One man died in Brisbane after being sucked into a storm drain by the muddy waters, Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh said.Thousands of homes were swamped, and officials told residents it will be days before many of them can return to their houses. Others were told their homes will never be habitable again. In one spot of bright news, the swollen Brisbane River's peak was about a metre lower than predicted, at a depth slightly below that of 1974 floods that swept the city. The river had already begun to recede by Thursday afternoon, though it was expected to stay high for several days. Waters in some areas had reached the tops of roofs, shut down roads and power, and devastated entire neighbourhoods. (Daily Mail)