Heavy rain is again battering north and central Queensland communities as ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji moves inland, with dangerous flash flooding still a risk for the sodden region.
Several people were rescued from floodwaters on Sunday night and severe weather warnings for “locally intense rainfall” are in place from Mackay to Gladstone and for inland areas on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology says six-hourly rain totals of more than 250 millimetres may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.
The tropical low crossed the north Queensland coast between Ayr and Bowen about 9am on Sunday after weakening from a category one cyclone.
Loading…
The ex-cyclone moved inland west of Proserpine before taking a west-northwesterly track over the northern Central Highlands and Coalfields district overnight.
Parts of the Mackay hinterland received more than 300mm of rain since Sunday morning as heavy rainfall soaked coastal and inland areas.
Major flood warnings remain in place for the Georgina River, the Connors-Isaac River and the Flinders River.
There’s also a flood watch for rivers between Ayr and the Wide Bay and adjacent inland catchments.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji has produced heavy rainfall between Ayr and Mackay. (BOM)
Flood rescues
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed “major gratitude” for rescue crews who saved several people stranded in floodwaters overnight.
A swift-water rescue crew went to the aid of a woman, two children and two dogs in Gracemere, near Rockhampton, about 11.30pm when their vehicle became submerged.
“It’s times like these you see people helping each other. It really gives you a great sense of fulfilment about the good in people,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Boats can be replaced, people can’t.”
In Mackay, a man was rescued after he was swept down the flooded Pioneer River while trying to reach his yacht.
Ross Matheson (left) and his kids witnessed a man being rescued from a flooded Pioneer River in Mackay. (ABC Tropical North: Ben Mihan)
Onlookers at the River Street boat ramp watched anxiously as the man hopped into an inflatable tender as darkness fell.
Worried witness Ross Matheson called 000 when the man was swiftly carried downstream.
“It washed him straight towards the river mouth … he was in a hurry and he was stressing,” Mr Matheson said.
Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) volunteers found the man downstream after he managed to anchor his craft.
“There was a lot of water moving through the river, so it’s not a safe place to be,” MRQ deputy unit commander David Ugrinic said.
Residents at Toolakea Beach prepared sandbags on the weekend before the cyclone hit north Queensland. (ABC North Queensland: Baz Ruddick)
The boatie wasn’t wearing a life jacket and told rescuers he was trying to check his 40-foot yacht.
“He was just at the mercy of the river and luckily he had an anchor on board, which, to be honest, probably saved his life,” Mr Ugrinic said.
Rain ‘exacerbating’ riverine flooding
BOM forecaster Miriam Bradbury said the latest rain followed several days of very wet weather, increasing the risks of life-threatening flash flooding.
“[The rain is] falling on saturated river catchments and further exacerbating that ongoing riverine flooding situation that has already begun to develop,” she said.
About 3,000 homes were without power, mostly in the Mackay and Whitsundays regions, and the Bruce Highway has reopened.
In an emergency phone Triple Zero
Winds gusts of up to 113 kilometres per hour were recorded at Hamilton Island as the ex-cyclone approached the mainland yesterday, but winds should continue easing today.
However, the BOM warned there was an “ongoing risk” of damaging winds if thunderstorms develop.
“They do still have that potential to tap into those stronger winds and cause a bit of damage,” Ms Bradbury said.
Risks of landslides, trees falling
Communities have also been warned wet soil could lead to trees toppling along the north-east tropical coast, with landslips also a risk around steep and hilly terrain.
The ex-cyclone’s strong winds and rough ocean conditions off the north Queensland coast ripped several boats free of their anchorages yesterday and pushed them to shore.
Airlie Beach local George Canfield says Koji was “full on”. (ABC News: Jasmine Hines)
Airlie Beach local and keen yachtsman George Canfield has lived through two cyclones — Ului and Debbie — but said Koji had been “full on”.
Mr Canfield said it was tough to watch other locals’ boats lashed by the severe weather.
“It’s just sad. We’ve lost a lot but we’re lucky we’ve saved a lot too,” he said.
Several boats broke free of their anchorages off Airlie Beach. (ABC News: Jasmine Hines)
According to the BOM’s seven-day forecast map, Koji is expected to weaken further and move west and then north-west through the Gulf Country and towards the Northern Territory.
It could then potentially shift towards northern WA next weekend, where it is a chance of redeveloping into a tropical cyclone if it moves off the coast.