Truckie stuck on roof among dozens rescued in flood, with Brisbane storms possible
A man standing on the roof of his truck as rapidly rising floodwater reached the windows was one of dozens of people rescued in a single town since former cyclone Koji made landfall in Queensland.
The weather system crossed the coast between Ayr and Bowen at around 10am on Sunday, just after it was downgraded to a category 1 hurricane.
Areas west of the coast are flooded, with up to 200 millimeters of water falling in the worst-hit areas and more rain is expected.
At around 2.30am on Tuesday, a man driving a truck became stranded on the Gregory Highway near Clermont and a swift water assistance team was called to the scene.
Another vehicle with two people inside was found nearby by emergency crews, and while both vehicles were submerged, the trio were rescued.
Storms remained possible as far south as Brisbane, but Bureau of Meteorology predictions that the River City could be drenched in rain all week were downgraded on Monday night.
Nine people, four adults and five children, were rescued by a private helicopter from Fraser Lane in Clermont on Monday afternoon, and two others were rescued by the SES from the Old Showgrounds Road.
At least nine people were rescued from vehicles and homes in the area that day, and up to 100 homes were flooded.
Emergency crews were told that the floodwater would gradually subside as the large area was saturated.
Bureau of Meteorology’s Daniel Hayes said storms were possible in areas already hard-hit and could drift as far south as Brisbane for the rest of the week.
“We are likely to see severe storms in the central areas, which have already seen significant rainfall,” he said.
“We are likely to see some thunderstorms extending south-east including around Brisbane and the Gold Coast… if we do see them we will be much more isolated and unlikely to produce such heavy rainfall.”
Prime Minister David Crisafulli told reporters that around 50,000 head of cattle had been lost in the north of the province and that number was expected to rise.
“These are the early days,” he said.
“These losses will increase as grazers find the time and courage to fill out the forms.”
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