The Australian city of Brisbane is preparing
for the worst of its devastating floods,
with water levels set to peak over the
next few hours.
The peak is now expected to reach 5.2m (17ft) at
0400 local time on Thursday (1800GMT
Wednesday), down from the 5.4m of the
devastating 1974 floods.
But Queensland's premier warned many would
wake "to scenes many have never seen anything
like in their lives".
The death toll in Queensland is 12 so far, with
dozens reported missing.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the disaster's
scale "mind-boggling".
Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh said: "We are
now in the grip of a very serious natural disaster.
"We are now seeing thousands of homes
inundated with water up to the roof. Many, many
more are expected to see significant water
damage."
She said 20,000 to 30,000 people would be
affected in Brisbane.
Although the flood peak could be below the 1974
level, Ms Bligh said: "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.
"We are still looking at an event which will cripple
parts of our city."
Many supermarkets have been stripped of
supplies, while a number of rubbish collections
and bus services have halted.
During the day on Wednesday, the central
business district escaped serious flooding, with
the slightly lower level of water than forecast.
However, boats and pontoons still floated down
the roaring Brisbane river, along with massive
amounts of debris.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he
had "a sense of horror and awe about the power
of the river".
"At the moment we are seeing pontoons and
people's boats... sadly in the coming hours we
might be seeing bits of people's houses... and
that breaks my heart.''
The central district is still in danger - the flood's
peak early on Thursday will coincide with a high
sea tide.
The city's South Brisbane and West End districts
have already been badly hit, the Brisbane Courier
Mail reported. In all, more than 50 suburbs and
2,100 roads could be left under water.
More than 100,000 properties have had their
power cut as a precaution against flooding of
electricity substations.
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Leisa Bourne of Red Cross Queensland told the
BBC the city's residents had been orderly in
preparing their evacuation plans during the day
on Wednesday but she expected an influx of
people to evacuation centres when the flood hit
its peak.
'Completely unrecognisable'
West of Brisbane in the city of Ipswich, the
Bremer river peaked at around 20m on
Wednesday.
About 1,000 homes were inundated and 7,500
more affected, the Queensland Times reported.
More than 1,000 people are in evacuation centres
there.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he expected
flood levels to drop within the next 36 hours,
allowing the clean-up to begin afterwards.
"If I find anybody looting in our city, they will be
used as flood markers," he warned.
One man found dead in his car in Ipswich has
not yet been included in the death toll of 12.
Ms Bligh said: "There are some parts of Brisbane
and Ipswich which are already completely
unrecognisable."
Water levels are expected to stay high in Brisbane
until Saturday.
However Ms Bligh vowed the state would get
back on its feet swiftly.
"We believe we can recover very quickly. That is
our intention," she said.
Ms Gillard urged Australians to look out for their
neighbours.
"If there's someone in your street you're worried
about, maybe an older Australian that you
haven't seen for a while, maybe give them a
knock on the door and make sure they're okay."
The worst affected area was the town of
Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, where residents
described an "instant inland tsunami" of 8m
ripping through the streets on Monday.
One good piece of news on Wednesday was that
the number of missing in the Lockyer Valley had
been revised down from 51 to 43, but there were
grave fears for nine.
Source: Http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12173846
for the worst of its devastating floods,
with water levels set to peak over the
next few hours.
The peak is now expected to reach 5.2m (17ft) at
0400 local time on Thursday (1800GMT
Wednesday), down from the 5.4m of the
devastating 1974 floods.
But Queensland's premier warned many would
wake "to scenes many have never seen anything
like in their lives".
The death toll in Queensland is 12 so far, with
dozens reported missing.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the disaster's
scale "mind-boggling".
Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh said: "We are
now in the grip of a very serious natural disaster.
"We are now seeing thousands of homes
inundated with water up to the roof. Many, many
more are expected to see significant water
damage."
She said 20,000 to 30,000 people would be
affected in Brisbane.
Although the flood peak could be below the 1974
level, Ms Bligh said: "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.
"We are still looking at an event which will cripple
parts of our city."
Many supermarkets have been stripped of
supplies, while a number of rubbish collections
and bus services have halted.
During the day on Wednesday, the central
business district escaped serious flooding, with
the slightly lower level of water than forecast.
However, boats and pontoons still floated down
the roaring Brisbane river, along with massive
amounts of debris.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he
had "a sense of horror and awe about the power
of the river".
"At the moment we are seeing pontoons and
people's boats... sadly in the coming hours we
might be seeing bits of people's houses... and
that breaks my heart.''
The central district is still in danger - the flood's
peak early on Thursday will coincide with a high
sea tide.
The city's South Brisbane and West End districts
have already been badly hit, the Brisbane Courier
Mail reported. In all, more than 50 suburbs and
2,100 roads could be left under water.
More than 100,000 properties have had their
power cut as a precaution against flooding of
electricity substations.
Cannot play media.You do not have the correct
version of the flash player. Download the
correct version
Leisa Bourne of Red Cross Queensland told the
BBC the city's residents had been orderly in
preparing their evacuation plans during the day
on Wednesday but she expected an influx of
people to evacuation centres when the flood hit
its peak.
'Completely unrecognisable'
West of Brisbane in the city of Ipswich, the
Bremer river peaked at around 20m on
Wednesday.
About 1,000 homes were inundated and 7,500
more affected, the Queensland Times reported.
More than 1,000 people are in evacuation centres
there.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he expected
flood levels to drop within the next 36 hours,
allowing the clean-up to begin afterwards.
"If I find anybody looting in our city, they will be
used as flood markers," he warned.
One man found dead in his car in Ipswich has
not yet been included in the death toll of 12.
Ms Bligh said: "There are some parts of Brisbane
and Ipswich which are already completely
unrecognisable."
Water levels are expected to stay high in Brisbane
until Saturday.
However Ms Bligh vowed the state would get
back on its feet swiftly.
"We believe we can recover very quickly. That is
our intention," she said.
Ms Gillard urged Australians to look out for their
neighbours.
"If there's someone in your street you're worried
about, maybe an older Australian that you
haven't seen for a while, maybe give them a
knock on the door and make sure they're okay."
The worst affected area was the town of
Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, where residents
described an "instant inland tsunami" of 8m
ripping through the streets on Monday.
One good piece of news on Wednesday was that
the number of missing in the Lockyer Valley had
been revised down from 51 to 43, but there were
grave fears for nine.
Source: Http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12173846
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