SYDNEY — One person has tragically died on Sunday in Queensland’s north due to heavy flooding, as authorities urged thousands to seek higher ground in the face of torrential rains. This alarming situation highlights the increasing impact of climate change in East Asia and its surrounding regions.
Queensland officials confirmed that major flooding is currently affecting coastal Hinchinbrook Shire, home to about 11,000 residents, approximately 500 kilometers north of Brisbane, the state’s capital. Several suburbs in the nearby city of Townsville are also experiencing the devastating effects of this weather event.
North Queensland is rich in natural resources, boasting significant reserves of zinc, silver, lead, copper, and iron ore. Townsville serves as a crucial processing center for the region’s base metals. In 2019, severe floods in this area disrupted rail shipments of lead and zinc concentrate, causing extensive damage to properties.
Regional emergency management authorities emphasized the urgency for residents in low-lying areas to gather their evacuation kits and relocate to safer locations on higher ground. They warned that this situation poses a serious threat to life and property.
The current flooding has been triggered by persistent heavy rains linked to a low-pressure system laden with tropical moisture. Australia’s weather forecaster noted that rainfall totals could reach up to 30 centimeters within 24 hours.
Furthermore, the forecaster indicated that the potential for heavy, locally intense rainfall and damaging winds might persist into early next week, depending on the strength and position of the trough and low pressure system.
Australia’s east has faced frequent flooding in recent years, including “once in a century” floods that inundated the neighboring Northern Territory in January 2023 during a prolonged La Nina weather event, raising concerns about climate change and its profound effects on the region.
