1 Dead as North Queensland Deluge Continues

Floodwaters on Townsend St, Mysterton in Townsville, Australia, on Jan. 31, 2025. AAP Image/Scott Radford-Chisholm

A deadly flood could be the worst in a century for parts of northern Queensland.

One person is dead as floods engulf northeastern parts of the sunshine state, where Townsville residents evacuate homes following warnings flood levels could reach the second storey of some buildings.

Premier David Crisafulli shared scant news of the death during a press conference on Sunday, confirming that the person had died at Ingham, one of the centres hardest hit by the floods.

Queensland Police said the person died when a rescue boat capsized while trying to help residents evacuate flooded areas.

The flood victim, reported to be a woman, was not an SES member and is believed to be a community member.

Heavy rain fuelled by two tropical lows is impacting areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and North Tropical Coast, extending from Mackay to south of Cairns.

Townsville and surrounds has already received between 500m and 800m, with more rain predicted in coming days. The city’s airport has been closed.

Emergency warnings are in place for six Townsville suburbs in the locally named “black zone,” with residents told to leave.

Crisafulli warned residents not to be complacent.

“There is more rain to come, and there is the prospect of record rain falls … I’m just asking people just take the precautions, prepare for the worst, listen to the advice,” he told reporters on Sunday.

The wild weather, that has also brought high winds, has been described by authorities as a once-in-a-century event.

Major flood warnings have been issued for the Horton, Herbert, Ross, and Bohle rivers, with the Herbert nearing a 1967 record of 15.2 meters.

Swift water rescue crews, including water police, SES and defence personnel, have been deployed, but power outages and road closures are adding challenges.

Ongoing emergency warnings are in place for the Hinchinbrook Shire.

Seven-day rainfall totals of more than 900mm have hammered the north tropical coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

“We could even be talking about places in excess of one metre over the next few days. That is an incredible amount of rainfall,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

The Australian and Queensland governments have activated personal hardship assistance for impacted residents.

State disaster co-ordinator Shane Chelepy said the death at Ingham highlighted the dangers and risks of floods.

“(They) do put our members of the community at risk, but also it puts our emergency service workers and our emergency services volunteers at risk,” he said on Sunday.

He encouraged people to leave if necessary from a large number of isolated communities.

“If you are being asked to leave, please do so, because it is really dangerous for you, your family and emergency services if we need to come back and rescue you at times of crisis.”