Synopsis
A second death has been confirmed due to floodwaters in northeastern Australia, with officials warning of additional heavy rain. An 82-year-old woman was found in Ingham after the water receded. The situation remains critical as more rain is expected, prompting evacuations and emergency responses.Key Takeaways
- Second death confirmed in flood crisis.
- 82-year-old woman found in Ingham.
- Previous death involved emergency boat capsizing.
- Heavy rainfall expected to continue.
- Emergency services and ADF assisting recovery efforts.
Sydney, Feb 5 (NationPress) A second individual has tragically lost their life in floodwaters in northeastern Australia, as residents are cautioned to anticipate further heavy rainfall in the upcoming days.
Authorities in Queensland reported on Tuesday that the remains of an 82-year-old woman were discovered in cane fields near the town of Ingham. The discovery was made around 11 a.m. local time by a neighbor after floodwaters had subsided.
This marks the second confirmed fatality in the ongoing flooding crisis affecting Queensland’s North Tropical Coast region in the far northeast of Australia.
Previously, a 63-year-old woman from Ingham, one of the most severely affected towns between Townsville and Cairns, died on Sunday when an emergency services boat carrying six individuals collided with a tree and capsized in the floodwaters.
In a statement on social media, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences, stating he is “thinking of the family and the community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Between Friday and Monday, nearly two meters of rain fell in certain areas, but conditions improved on Tuesday, allowing some evacuated residents to return to their homes in low-lying sections of Townsville.
Nevertheless, the Bureau of Meteorology has alerted that Townsville, Ingham, and adjacent regions could experience over 200 millimeters of rain in the following days.
Residents in low-lying areas of the town of Georgetown, located over 350 kilometers inland from Townsville, were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday night after a nearby river overflowed its banks.
A generator was utilized on Tuesday night to restore power to thousands of households in Ingham, but local mayor Ramon Jayo reported that the town faced a lack of running water on Wednesday due to a malfunction at the area's water treatment plant.
The town is currently isolated by flooding and is depending on aerial support for essential supplies.
Additional water rescue teams and members of the Australian Defence Force have arrived in Townsville to assist in recovery operations.
