Australia flooding

lkdood

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Apr 7, 2008
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lkdood

Member
Apr 7, 2008
56,856
1,798
0
Washington, D.C. / London, U.K.
UPDATE:

Thousands flee Brisbane, flash floods kill 10

Thousands of people fled central Brisbane Tuesday as the panicked city braced for its worst flooding in 120 years, after terrifying flash floods left 10 dead and 78 missing nearby.

Workers evacuated en masse after the Brisbane River burst its banks and officials said 6,500 properties and the downtown area would be hit in Australia's third largest city, which was facing its biggest floods since 1893.

"This water is on its way," said Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.
"Today is very significant, tomorrow is bad, and Thursday is going to be devastating for the residents and businesses concerned," he said.

The exodus by bus, train and car came a day after flash floods devastated the hillside town of Toowoomba, 125 kilometres (80 miles) west in Australia's Great Dividing Range, sweeping away houses and uprooting trees.

In Brisbane, panic-buying took hold as flood alerts were issued for dozens of suburbs and rescuers air-lifted hundreds of residents from outlying towns.

"At our local supermarket queues, all 12 tills were at least 50-60 people deep and all essentials were sold out -- perishables and non-perishables," said Brisbane lawyer Paul Betros, who was sent home when his central office building was evacuated.

"There was no bread, milk, batteries, bottled water, candles. The bakery had sold out of bread and was closing."

The sudden loss of life in Toowoomba dramatically escalated a rolling flood disaster that has inundated vast swathes of Australia's northeast and crippled economic life.

AFP