Queensland’s South-East Hit by Record Rainfall, Severe Flooding Reported

Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, experienced its wettest day since the 2022 floods as the state’s south-east region was pummeled by heavy rainfall, with the Bureau of Meteorology‘s Laura Boekel confirming a record-breaking 183mm of rain within 24 hours.

Areas like Logan, Redland, and Rosalie were among the hardest-hit, with residents facing low-level flooding and creeks breaching their banks, causing extensive flash flooding and road closures throughout the region.

Residents recounted waking up to flooded backyards and emergency services, including the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service led by Brad Commens, had to conduct multiple swift water rescues due to reckless driving into floodwaters.

In a tragic event, a 28-year-old woman lost her life after her vehicle was swept away in floodwaters near Mount Isa, as the vehicle was found partially submerged at the Malbon River causeway on Cloncurry Duchess Road.

Despite significant challenges caused by the heavy rainfall, the Brisbane City Council’s flood alert system failed to notify residents promptly, leading to public apologies and technical errors which resulted in delayed weather alerts being issued.

Gold Coast mayor, Tom Tate, highlighted the unpredictable nature of the severe storms and criticized the Bureau of Meteorology for initially underestimating the amount of rainfall expected in the region.

Meanwhile, further north, remote communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria were bracing for Tropical Cyclone Lincoln, which had officially formed and was forecasted to make landfall near the Northern Territory-Queensland border as a category one system, prompting additional weather warnings and precautions.