A woman has died and thousands are under evacuation orders as intense rain and flash flooding grip large parts of North Queensland, particularly across Townsville and Ingham.
Residents in affected areas were warned to be on alert for flooding and even crocodiles after more than 800mm was dumped in parts of the region across the weekend, with potentially more to come.
One dramatic rescue was caught on camera while another ended in tragedy as the region's days-long soaking continued.
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Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed a woman died in floodwaters in Ingham, about 100km from Townsville, after an SES rescue boat capsized about 9.20am today.
The woman was travelling with an SES crew on the boat when it struck a tree on Rutledge Street and flipped.
Her body was located a short time later.
"There has been a loss of a life in floodwaters in Ingham," Crisafulli said.
"That's a really tight-knit community, our thoughts and prayers are with the family."
State Disaster Coordinator Shane Chelepy told reporters the woman, a member of the public, was travelling on an SES boat when it capsized.
"There were six people onboard the vessel, five people were recovered safely, but sadly one person was deceased," he said.
Police confirmed an off-duty police officer in a boat recovered the woman's body from the floodwaters.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the woman's death as "heartbreaking".
A dramatic rescue was caught on camera in Ingham, as a car floated past rapidly in fast-flowing floodwaters.
"Shit! Jump out mate, jump out! The window! Jump!" an onlooker can be heard yelling.
The driver eventually clambered onto the roof of the vehicle after it hit a power pole, before rescuers arrived in a small boat.
Thousands under evacuation orders
Multiple suburbs were told to evacuate after the region was hammered with 400mm of rain in 24 hours.
Evacuation orders were issued for large parts of Townsville overnight as heavy rainfall triggered dangerous flash flooding.
Residents in Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea were warned to leave by 12pm local time (1pm AEDT) today and Bluewater was added later in the afternoon, according to police.
After her family lost everything in 2019, Kathryn Ferguson wasn't taking any chances, piling her belongings, including precious photographs, into the car.
"Well these are the one I'm gonna save this time, 'cause last time I lost them all," she said.
It was too late for other residents.
"My house is gone. My driveway's – I can't even access my driveway and I'm in a four-wheel drive," one said.
Albanese said today he was committed to helping Queensland battle the floods with any resources necessary.
"I have spoken with Premier Crisafulli and reiterated we will supply whatever resources are required to deal with this event," the PM said in a statement.
Hundreds of millimetres of rain
Rainfall totals have been staggering but the downpour is far from over.
Rollingstone copped more than 820mm of rain from 9am yesterday to late this afternoon, with 810mm at Paluma Dam and 600mm at Bluewater, a flooded suburb in Townsville's south.
Forecasters warned the weather system could still dump another 500mm across the rest of tonight and tomorrow.
Crocodile warning amid flooding
Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation told residents to be aware of crocodiles in the murky floodwaters as the rain turns streets into rivers.
"During flooding crocodiles can turn up in places they haven't been seen before as they move about in search of calmer waters," the department said in a statement.
"Expect crocodiles in all north and far north Queensland waterways even if there is no warning sign."
More rain on the horizon
The intense rain and flooding wouldn't ease any time soon, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
The bureau said the forecast of more rainfall would likely lead to further pressure on rivers, creeks and streams which can lead to flooding.
Homes and businesses have already been inundated with flooding across the north.
Ingham went completely underwater in 1967 when the Herbert River hit 15.2 metres, a level it was set to come close to again in this disaster.
"If the water gets up to about that telephone pole, we're just gonna go," one resident told 9News.
Heavy monsoonal weather, including damaging wind gusts, was forecast for the north-east coast of Queensland with three-day totals expected to top 1000mm.
The rain was expected to continue well into tomorrow and Tuesday.
Peak wind gusts of about 90km/h were also possible for the islands and coastal fringe between Tully and Giru, with winds set to ease later tonight.bureau said.
Peak wind gusts of about 90km/h were also possible for the islands and coastal fringe between Tully and Giru, with winds set to ease later tonight.
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Authorities were out early knocking on doors and asking homeowners to gather their loved ones and belongings and leave before it was too late.
Single-storey homes were most at risk, while flooding could reach second-storey floors, rescue crews have warned.
An evacuation centre was set up at Heatley Secondary College at 321 Fulham Road in Heatley and a second at Townsville Sports Precinct at 24 Burke Street in North Ward, with animals only accepted at the second location.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 100km/h across Townsville and much of North Queensland made rescue missions and evacuations difficult.
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The Bureau of Meteorology issued a gale warning for the coast of Townsville and Cairns while more strong winds were forecast for Mackay during the.
The bureau has warned there is potential for more intense rainfall over the state's north into next week.
Major flood warnings were issued for several rivers around Queensland including:
- The Herbert River
- The Ross and Bohle Rivers, the Black River and Bluewater Creek
- The Haughton River Catchment
Premier: Please evacuate your homes
This morning, Crisafulli shared a warning for Queenslanders under threat by the flooding and asked those in the "black zone" to pack their bags and leave.
Crisafulli told Today there was no end in sight yet for the heavy rains smashing the state's north.
"We're asking you to leave now," Crisafulli said.
"Ultimately, going with friends and family would be the preferred option, but if that's not an option for you, there is evacuation centres at both Heatley as well as the Townsville Sports Reserve, now in Ingham further north, which is my hometown.
"Some of the rainfall and the river rises we've seen overnight are at historic levels."
The premier said Queenslanders should take this evacuation notice seriously and to stay safe and avoid the roads during treacherous flood conditions.
He said the forecast over the next few days was for "monsoonal rain".
"Take every opportunity to get out if you believe you're in harm's way. Certainly if you're in those suburbs, you've got to go by midday," he added.
"There's more to come. The next few days could throw down more monsoonal rain. In fact, it will.
"So please, please listen to the warnings and we are updating them in real time."
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