Torrential downpours lashed eastern Australia on Saturday, raising deadly floodwaters to decades-long highs, swamping homes, and sweeping away cars.
Authorities in the eastern state of Queensland issued 11 emergency alerts in 24 hours as the overall death toll from days of flooding rose to four, with two more people missing.
“In some parts of southeast Queensland, this is the biggest event that they will see in a number of decades,” warned the state’s police and emergency services minister, Mark Ryan.
“And the rain has not stopped — in fact, there are some parts where it is intensifying.”
Images of southeast Queensland broadcast on Australian media showed homes and roads flooded, areas of land transformed into lakes, and a large chunk of a concrete pier floating down the fast-running Brisbane River.
Rainfall in some areas of the state had exceeded records going back decades, said senior Queensland meteorologist David Grant.
Heavy rain also hit the state capital, Brisbane.
"Essentially we've seen a month's worth of rainfall fall in one day for just Brisbane alone," Grant said.
Authorities in the eastern state of Queensland issued 11 emergency alerts in 24 hours as the overall death toll from days of flooding rose to four, with two more people missing.
“In some parts of southeast Queensland, this is the biggest event that they will see in a number of decades,” warned the state’s police and emergency services minister, Mark Ryan.
“And the rain has not stopped — in fact, there are some parts where it is intensifying.”
Images of southeast Queensland broadcast on Australian media showed homes and roads flooded, areas of land transformed into lakes, and a large chunk of a concrete pier floating down the fast-running Brisbane River.
Rainfall in some areas of the state had exceeded records going back decades, said senior Queensland meteorologist David Grant.
Heavy rain also hit the state capital, Brisbane.
"Essentially we've seen a month's worth of rainfall fall in one day for just Brisbane alone," Grant said.
