Queensland is bracing itself for another round of devastating floods as Tropical Cyclone Koji makes landfall, bringing with it torrential rain and ferocious winds. The situation is dire, with communities already reeling from the impact.
The cyclone, packing wind gusts of up to 100 km/h, has crossed the coast in far north Queensland, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Trees and fences have been toppled, and residents from Bowen to Mackay are in the direct path of the storm.
In Marian, just 30km west of Mackay, the situation is particularly critical. Roads are closed, and water levels are rapidly rising. One resident described the situation as being “absolutely smashed,” with their fence and their neighbor's fence destroyed. The rain is relentless, and the backyard is flooded, exceeding initial expectations.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Bureau of Meteorology reported an astonishing 146mm of rain in just two hours west of Mackay. Meanwhile, in Mackay, tourist Josephine Tobias shared a more optimistic view, stating that the locals seem to know how to cope. She described the storm as a “really bad storm that just keeps going.”
Further north, in Bowen, residents are on high alert. The manager of Coral Cove Apartments noted a sudden shift in wind direction, along with intermittent rain and gusty conditions. Heavy rain is also hammering Ayr and Mackay, with the Whitsunday Islands, a popular tourist destination, experiencing damaging wind gusts of 100km/h.
Overnight, areas west of Mackay recorded up to 200mm of rainfall, with more expected in the coming days. Senior forecaster Dean Narramore stated that the system is “very lopsided,” with the heaviest rainfall concentrated near and south of Tropical Cyclone Koji. This has raised significant concerns for residents and communities around the Ayr and Bowen area, extending through the Whitsundays. The forecast includes strong to damaging winds and widespread heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding.
The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has warned of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding along a significant stretch of Queensland's coast. He urged residents to actively monitor local emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology for updates, as the situation is dynamic and subject to change.
The Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli, commended the preparedness of communities that have previously experienced floods. He expressed confidence in the ability of Queenslanders to respond effectively.
The question is: Do you think the government's response is adequate?
Warnings are in place for much of the north-east Queensland coast, from Townsville to Mackay, including Bowen, Proserpine, and the Whitsunday Islands. The Bureau noted that heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding is developing between Townsville and St Lawrence, and tides are likely to be higher than normal between Cardwell and Mackay.
After crossing inland on Sunday morning, gales are expected to ease rapidly as Koji weakens and tracks westwards. In the north-west, major flooding continues to affect Gulf Country communities, where significant livestock losses are projected on the Flinders River.
