Australia Brisbane Faces Its Worst Flooding For A Century, 20,000 Homes In DANGER!

Authorities in Brisbane have warned the city it is facing its worst flooding in more than 100 years - with up to 20,000 homes in the path of raging waters.

The sun emerged after a week of monsoon rain over Queensland's capital - but locals were told it was a false dawn.

"Don't take any comfort from the fact that we have blue sky," said the state's premier, Anna Bligh, on Wednesday.

Now, as night falls in the city, officials estimate the city's swollen river will peak at 4.6 metres at around 4am on Thursday and will not drop until at least Saturday.

Ms Bligh has urged everyone to get out of the city as it is not known how much devastation could be caused overnight and in the early hours.

Unprecedented rainfall over much of the northeast Australian state has already devastated scores of towns and cities, including Rockhampton and Toowoomba.

At least 12 people are known to have died and 43 are missing after torrents of water tore through Lockyer Valley.




Map showing floodwaters across the Brisbane area Source: Brisbane City Council


An area the size of France and Germany has been crippled by floodwaters now on course for Brisbane.

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard told Sky News: "People do have to be prepared for the death toll to rise."

Prime Minister David Cameron offered his sympathy to those affected in a phone call to Ms Gillard on Wednesday.

Mr Cameron said the UK stood ready to offer any assistance needed to help with the deluge.

Although the majority of Brisbane's two million people are safe due to the city's hilly suburbs, thousands of properties in low-lying areas are likely to be inundated.

:: Click here to see an interactive graphic of the flooded areas

The number of people evacuated is expected to rise to over 4,000 as floodwaters fill suburban creeks and tributaries.

Three thousand homes in the town of Ipswich - which is about 25 miles west of Brisbane - have been evacuated.

In a press conference Ms Bligh said around 115,000 properties are without power.

She said efforts are being made to protect local people from floating debris, including boats which have come loose from their moorings and a floating walkway.




Man stands with rescued furniture on roof of his house


Police are deciding whether to blow the boats up or sink them to stop them from becoming "floating torpedoes".

"I am feeling a sense of horror and awe at the power of the river. Sadly in coming hours we will see bits of people's homes float down the river," Brisbane Mayor Campbell Newman said, warning the torrent could take three to four days to subside.



australian prime minister talks to sky news
"It is a shock, I don't think people really expected it would do this.


The Port of Brisbane is closed, shutting down Australia's third-busiest container port and a five million tonnes per year coal-loading facility.

One central bank board member said on Wednesday the disaster could cut 1% off the country's GDP - equal to almost $13bn (£8.2bn).

Thursday's predicted peak has been reviewed and is estimated to now peak below the depth of 1974's disaster when vast areas of Australia's third largest city were plunged under water.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the news was "welcome, but of little comfort".

"This is still a major event, the city is much bigger, much more populated and has many parts under flood that didn't even exist in 1974," she said.




Residents are desperately trying to protect their homes


After the devastation of that summer, a dam was built west of Brisbane to prevent such an event happening again.




Local reports say 490,000ML (megalitres) of water a day were being let out - an overflow that Brisbane is bearing the brunt of as it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean.

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[beecoz3001]

Pray for all these people and animals.

[88005143]

God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

[Logicbeatslies]

@1Daphdong The bankers will want 100% of their money back. We don't have the policy where you can out your keys in the letter box and walk away (when the outstanding debt is higher then the value) like America. Most people will rebuild / repair like nothing happened.. if they're fully insured!

Going bankrupt is a very bad plan.

[1Daphdong]

@srkh28 There are a lot of pple just walking away. Leaving the houses that are either no longer there or so flood damaged that they will have to be rebuilt on land that will lose its value dramatically. The bankers are going to lose tonnes of money on this one.

[1Daphdong]

This was only in Brisbane, The Lockyer Valley (Queenslands Bread Basket) and Toowoomba, However ther have been mammoth floods all over Queensland and now into New South Wales..In all 1/3 of australia either has been under water or has been flood damages. Over 40,000 properties have been affected in South Queensland. In all over 100,000 properties have been affected and as the rains fall down into NEW more are affected. Also in Upper Western Australia.

[mathozero]

imagine... peopel aside... people can know how to escape but not the dogs cats chicks... and all other animals out there and they can only watch, first their habitat destroyed, then they are drowned as well

[srkh28]

the bankers are going to have a field day with these people - lots of defaults - lots of businesses wont make the payments - lots of money and properties for our fat little mba piggies to foreclose on.

[HistoryTours]

watch what happens here in America as all of the snow starts to melt