Residents of the coastal Queensland city of Bundaberg have been ordered to evacuate immediately as the Burnett River threatens to reach 7.5 metres by midnight, causing major flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned that the river could exceed 7 metres on Tuesday afternoon, prompting an emergency alert from the local disaster management group.
Queensland MP Tom Smith advised residents that bridges would close by 3pm, urging them to decide where to stay. The Bundaberg Recreational Precinct has been set up as a refuge. Mayor Helen Blackburn said about 280 homes and 120 businesses are expected to be affected, noting anxiety among those who experienced previous floods in 2010 and 2013.
The flooding follows days of heavy rain across northern Australia, with parts of the Northern Territory facing their worst flooding in decades. Darwin residents have been asked to reduce water use after the Darwin River Dam stopped operating due to flooding. A boil water alert has been issued for Darwin, Palmerston, and surrounding areas.
The BoM reported that at least 15 rivers in Queensland are experiencing major flooding. While the rain has cleared in the worst-affected areas, rivers will remain high for some time. Tropical low 29U, which brought the severe weather, has moved offshore, but flood watches remain across much of the state.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged people to follow flood advice and not drive through flood waters, after several rescues including a child near Bundaberg. The trough over the Northern Territory is expected to persist, bringing further heavy rainfall through the week.
