Australian Floods Reach Catastrophic Levels

Brisbane river breaks its banks
By Nx Doyle,  Newser User
Posted Jan 10, 2011 4:02 AM CST Posted Jan 10, 2011 4:02 AM CST
Promoted on Newser Jan 10, 2011 11:02 PM CST
Australian Floods Reach Catastrophic Levels
Tow truck workers clear vehicles from a street in Toowoomba, Australia, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, following a flash flood.    (AP Photo/ABC)

The floods that have ravaged huge areas of the Australian state of Queensland show no signs of abating, with the state capital Brisbane now under serious threat. ABC Australia reports that the town of Toowoomba, 70 miles west of the capital, was inundated with rain Monday, with the deluge so fierce that houses in the nearby Lockyer Valley were washed away. At least ten people were killed and 78 are still unaccounted for, AP reports.

Brisbane, a city of 2 million, has been protected by a flood catchment since the city was hit by floods in 1974, but the dam is now at capacity. The swollen Brisbane river has now burst its banks and evacuations are taking place, the Courier-Mail reports. It's feared that a combination of further rain and storms, run-off from other flooded areas and a king tide on Friday could cause even further damage to a state already reeling from devastating flooding on the central coast of the state. Authorities believe the floods could take months to subside.
(More Australia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X