What is Happening in Australia’s Queensland State?

Australian Govt evacuates residents of Queensland amid record-breaking floods in region

There are record-breaking floods in Queensland state, caused by heavy rain in the northwest region. The floods have led to the evacuation of 53 residents of Burketown in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with police urging the remaining 100 residents to leave the area as soon as possible.

Taking to Twitter, the police shared visuals of the flooding in Burketown and urged all remaining residents to leave. “Police are strongly urging all remaining residents to leave the community of Burketown as soon as possible. This is particularly relevant to the elderly and people with young children,” the police tweeted.

Police have released vision of flooding in Burketown today.

All remaining residents are being urged to leave.

For up-to-date information, visit: https://t.co/5XobASxKXh pic.twitter.com/nEsSQ0s766
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 11, 2023

The weather forecast predicts that river levels in the area will peak on Sunday. The Burke Shire Council has issued a final alert urging residents to evacuate, as the water movements are unpredictable and rising at a rapid rate. Sewer and power services are expected to be cut from Saturday night.

The Burke Shire Council, meanwhile, issued a final alert on Saturday urging the residents to evacuate. “Waters are continuing to rise in the Burketown Community and surrounding shire. At the moment, the water movements are unpredictable and are rising at a rapid rate. The safety of our community members is paramount and we strongly encourage residents to leave,” the council said.

Australia has experienced heavy rainfall in the last two years, driven by back-to-back La Nina climate cycles over the Pacific. However, the country’s meteorology bureau has predicted drier and warmer weather in the months ahead as La Nina nears its end.