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Australian City Cut Off by Flood

'No airport, rail, or road' amid downpour

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 3, 2011 8:09 AM CST

(Newser) – Floods have overwhelmed an Australian city, cutting off all access to it. “Rockhampton is now completely stranded—a town of 75,000 people—no airport, rail, or road,” said an official. And the still-swelling Fitzroy River that submerged Rockhampton's main highway to the state capital of Brisbane is set to keep rising late into tomorrow, and possibly into Wednesday morning. Those who have fled Rockhampton may have to wait two weeks or more before going home, and floodwaters may take a month to completely dry up, the AP reports. Click for more on the flood.

This image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News shows a flooded street in Rockhampton, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
This image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News shows a flooded street in Rockhampton, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/AuBC via Associated Press Television News)
In this image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News, State Emergency Service workers on boats, along with a couple make their way in a flooded street in Rockhampton, Jan. 2, 2011.
In this image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News, State Emergency Service workers on boats, along with a couple make their way in a flooded street in Rockhampton, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/AuBC via Associated Press Television News)
In this photo provided by the Rockhampton Regional Council, water floods over the runway of the Rockhampton airport, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
In this photo provided by the Rockhampton Regional Council, water floods over the runway of the Rockhampton airport, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/Rockhampton Regional Council)
In this image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News, two men get out of a boat at the front gate of a house on a flooded street in Rockhampton, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
In this image made from AuBC video via Associated Press Television News, two men get out of a boat at the front gate of a house on a flooded street in Rockhampton, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/AuBC via Associated Press Television News)
In this aerial photo provided by the Queensland Police, a property is covered in floodwaters near Emerald, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
In this aerial photo provided by the Queensland Police, a property is covered in floodwaters near Emerald, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/Queensland Police)
A wallaby stands on a large round hay bail trapped by rising flood waters outside the town of Dalby in Queensland, Australia Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010.
A wallaby stands on a large round hay bail trapped by rising flood waters outside the town of Dalby in Queensland, Australia Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010.   (AP Photo/Anthony Skerman)
In this aerial photo provided by the Queensland Police, a property is threatened with floodwaters near Emerald, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
In this aerial photo provided by the Queensland Police, a property is threatened with floodwaters near Emerald, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.   (AP Photo/Queensland Police)
The town of Dalby in Queensland, Australia is seen flooded Wednesday, Dec 29, 2010.
The town of Dalby in Queensland, Australia is seen flooded Wednesday, Dec 29, 2010.   (AP Photo/Jeff Camden/Pool)
The town of Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia is seen flooded Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.
The town of Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia is seen flooded Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.   (AP Photo/Jono Searle)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Aitchondo
Jan 3, 2011 11:14 AM CST
completely cut off because of floods, no airport, rail or road? It's floods, stupid, with water, stupid, use a fricking boat. I need a beer.
finkster
Jan 3, 2011 11:11 AM CST
See what happens when you live in one of those big city metropolises!!
CHRiSTFELD
Jan 3, 2011 8:35 AM CST
Polar Ice Cap 2000 and 2010: the shrinking of the Polar Ice Cap is shown with the 2000 version in yellow overlaying the 2010 photo. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/multimedia/2000-2010/3.html

 
Australia • flooding • Queensland • natural disaster

 
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