Australia Floods Destroy Over 2,000 Houses

By: Ahmed Yasser

CAIRO, Feb.4. (SEE) – North Queensland flood disaster in Australia, announced after a slow moving monsoon dumped record-breaking rain over the Townsville region for days. After eight days of heavy monsoonal rain, authorities in the north Queensland city of ''Townsville'' had no choice but to open the floodgates of the ''Ross River Dam'', deliberately flooding about 2,000 homes.

About 1,000 people spent Sunday night, in evacuation shelters and emergency services conducted 18 swiftwater rescues where people were pulled from flowing floodwaters. The authorities in Townsville, Australia have warned residents to beware of crocodiles and snakes spotted in floodwaters in residential areas.

Australia Floods Destroies Over 2000 House

Some parts of Queensland have had more than 1.5m of rain since last weekend at Ingham, north of Townsville, 419m fell in a single day on Sunday. At Townsville almost 1m was recorded at Townsville airport across eight days of torrential rain.

With the floodgates fully open about 1,900 cubic metres of water a second was released that stabilised the dam which on Monday afternoon, was holding 523,475 m or 225% its typical capacity.

crocodiles and snakes spotted in floodwaters in residential areas

Near the suburb of Idalia, a flooded road was transformed into a temporary boat ramp by residents who used their single-motor fishing boats to help people escape their flooded homes.

Here are some of the most powerful images from the natural disaster that has inundated suburbs and threatened lives.