Aussie flood creates war-like disaster

Floods slash $13 billion off Australian economy

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159932.html


Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh says Australia's flood-devastated state faces a reconstruction and cleanup similar to an effort following a war.

"This is going to be a long recovery. This morning as I look across not only the capital city (Brisbane), but three-quarters of my state, we are facing a reconstruction effort of post-war proportions," Bligh told Australian radio on Thursday.

Although flood waters peaked bellow feared catastrophic levels on Thursday, Australia's third largest city, Brisbane, and other devastated regions face years of rebuilding and even the threat of fresh floods in the weeks ahead.

Flooding has smashed infrastructure inundating roads and railways in Brisbane. The sewage leaked and spread into the water that remained one meter bellow the feared level.

The city center remained shuttered, more than 12,000 homes were flooded in the city of two million and some 118,000 buildings had their power cut.

Brisbane airport survived the swell and remains open, with almost all flights unaffected.

Forecasters say water levels are expected to slowly recede over the weekend. So far, the death toll from Queensland's flooding stands at least 23 with dozens more are reported missing.

The Queensland floods may end up costing the economy $13 billion because of lost productivity and damage to key infrastructure.

Australia's Brisbane stricken by flood

Police patrol a flooded Limestone Street in the Ipswich city centre, some 40 kms southwest of the Queensland city of Brisbane on January 12, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159771.html


Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane, has been surrounded by water as flooding across the waterlogged state of Queensland turns violent.

Brisbane mayor Campbell Newman warned on Wednesday that the number of homes expected to be affected by the flood is to reach about 19,700 as Brisbane River overflows its banks in the city's worst deluge since 1893, AFP reported.

"We are bracing for a one-in-a-hundred-year flood. We are bracing for a massive amount of water coming into this river system and it will flood thousands of properties," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said.

More evacuation centers have been opened in Brisbane, which is the latest place stricken by the flood. Hundreds of people had to be rescued by helicopter.

However, helicopters dispatched to save people in flood-stricken areas of the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, had to cease their operation due to lashing rain.

Also the city center is expected to be submerged when the rising waters reach their highest on Thursday. There would be a massive power outage for safety reasons.

At least 10 people have been reported dead and more than 90 missing as the flashfloods smashed high through towns in the Great Dividing Range to the city's west on Monday and at least 15 more are feared to have been killed.

Heavy rainfall, coupled with strong winds, has forced residents of 30 suburbs of Brisbane to pack up and leave their homes to save their lives.

Tsunami-like floods race to NE Australia

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159603.html


Australia is bracing for more downpours after flashfloods claimed at least eight lives in a small town near the northeastern city of Brisbane, Queensland's capital city.

Tsunami-like flashfloods raced toward Australia's third-largest city of Brisbane on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents from its outskirts, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

After a surging two-meter wall of water killed at least eight people overnight in the town of Toowoomba in west Brisbane, a flood warning was issued for the financial district in Brisbane.

Australian authorities have also predicted that the death toll is likely to climb. Nearly 70 people have been reported missing after flood waters inundated Toowoomba.

Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh said four children lost their lives and there were "grave concerns" for at least 11 of the 72 missing.

The flood threat is expected to peak in the country's third largest city in the coming days.

Officials say some 6,500 properties are at risk of being submerged in Brisbane's worst flooding in 118 years, while, a further 16,500 properties would be partially affected. The country's prime minister has also warned of a grim situation ahead.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has warned Queenslanders that there are more dark days ahead as they try to deal with massive flooding across the South of the state.

Queensland has been in the grip of its worst flooding for more than two weeks, after tropical downpours across a vast portion of the state covered an area the size of France and Germany combined.

Entire towns have been swamped, with more than 200,000 people affected, and the coal and farming industries virtually shut down.

The state estimates the deluge will cost $5 billion and has earmarked $680 million for emergency repairs.