7 of 10 SINKING and TILTING; Two dead in flood crisis gripping parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland!! Almost 5000 people evacuated during the worst flooding in NSW in decades!
/ Two dead in flood crisis gripping parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland!! /
/ Almost 5000 people have been forced to flee their homes during the worst flooding in NSW in decades while others have been placed on high alert as water levels continue to rise. /
/ A man has died after a car was swept off a road in heavy flooding in southeast Queensland. /
/ Australia's flood crisis deepened Monday, with hundreds forced to flee their homes in the rich agricultural land of the southeast and a man swept to his death by surging waters in Queensland. Days of heavy rain have hammered the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, swelling rivers, flooding farmland and forcing the closure of bridges and roads. /
Indonesia SINKING:
/Floodingkillsfive people in South Kalimantan.Floodscaused byoverflowingriversin the DistrictKotabaruBaharu, about 300kmsoutheastBanjarmasin, SouthKalimantanprovincial capitalthatkilled five peopleIrham, IqbalHussein, Henry and Matthew. /
/ Residentsalong the banks ofthe riverinSo'do, about fivekilometers from the cityMamuju, WestSulawesi, anticipatingafloodof anxietyMamujutime. "Now peoplecan notsleep welldue toContinuousrainsincemorning. Moreover, KaliMamujuoverflowup to twometersandhas inundatedhomesalong the riverNurdinsaid, residents, Sunday(03/04/2012) night. Some residentspackedfurnitureandother valuablesfrom theafternoonbecause oftherisingfloodwatersinundateddozens of homesandeven theresidentsalong the river. /
/ FloodsbesiegeSintang. KapuasriverwaterdischargeandthesplittingSintangcreeping up.Rise inwater levelis relativelyfast. No doubt, caused some roadsto beon the banks oftheriverwasalmostparalyzed byflooded. /
/ Flash FloodDamagedThousands ofHectares ofRice Fields. The flash floodsthat hitMandailingNatal, NorthSumatera, leavingthe farmerssuffered. As therecedingfloods, the damageseenhere and there. /
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Australia:
Two dead in flood crisis gripping parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland
UPDATE: AS the nation's flood crisis claims its second victim after record rainfall in three states, communities continue sandbagging as Numurkah's hospital closes due to extensive damage.
Residents of Queensland's sodden southeast coast are bracing for more flooding and a possible cyclone after the severe weather claimed its second life when a vehicle was swept away.
The man died at Glenwood, between Gympie and Maryborough, when his four-wheel drive was washed off a causeway during the deluge about 7am.
"It was a tragic set of circumstances," Gympie Mayor Ron Dyne said.
"For goodness' sake don't try and attempt to cross flooded streams because we've seen what the outcome will be."
Premier Anna Bligh, campaigning in Mackay, said her thoughts went out to the man's family and friends.
Heavy rain yesterday and today dumped 300mm in some areas and sparked a number of home evacuations and swift water rescues.
Two people were helped from a house in the street where the man was found dead.
There were fears for a good Samaritan who was spotted near the man's four-wheel drive before it washed away.
A second car in the area was also swept away, sparking another search.
However, the second car was empty and the "Samaritan" was later accounted for, the Department of Community Safety said.
His death came the day after police recovered the body of the 43-year-old Victorian man who was dragged into swollen floodwaters at Batemans Bay in NSW.
The man was one of three people who became trapped in a four-wheel-drive when trying to cross a creek on Saturday.
Youngsters at Numurkah have fun on an inflatable bed in the flood waters.
It comes as sandbagging efforts continue in the Victoria’s northeast as floodwaters hold steady.
Waters in the flood-ravaged town of Numurkah are expected to drop slowly after 30 homes and 10 businesses were inundated.
An SES spokesman said paramedics had inspected a nursing home after it was left isolated by the waters.
Thirty-eight residents at the Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge aged care facility are isolated but have supplies to last several days, an SES spokeswoman said.
They would likely be evacuated in an operation possibly involving the Australian Defence Force if supplies run out, she said.
Numurkah District Health Service chief executive Jacque Phillips said she did not expect the residents would have to leave.
"I'm not worried that we will have to evacuate," she said.
And the town will be without a hospital for at least a week as the state health service contemplates a huge clean-up.
Six patients and 28 nursing home residents were taken to nearby centres when advancing floodwaters forced an emergency evacuation on Sunday.
The town's nearest hospital is at Shepparton or Cobram - about a 30-minute drive.
Volunteers sandbagging the Numurkah hospital.
Ms Phillips said the hospital floor remained submerged today, with some areas still knee-deep in water.
The operating theatre was inundated, equipment destroyed and building infrastructure extensively damaged in the once-in-a-century flood.
Meanwhile, in nearby Nathalia, 24 kilometres east of Numurkah, authorities are preparing evacuation plans for up to 176 properties at risk as waters in the Broken Creek catchment continue to rise.
The SES spokesman said four people were rescued from the Upper Murray River town of Walwa's campground overnight and one house was inundated with another two saved by sandbagging efforts.
Residents of the border town had been ordered to evacuate from Walwa via text message at 2am after waters rose faster than expected, and were given one hour to assemble at the Walwa bush hospital.
Centre administrator Janice Newnham said damage to homes was minimal but the caravan park and the Border-Walwa Football Club ground remained under water.
The caravan park owners and the former owners who were helping them out had to be rescued about 3am.
"That went well and everyone is safe," Ms Newnham said, adding that most had since returned home to begin the clean-up.
The middle-of-the-night flood evacuation ended up turning into a children's party, which in turn lifted spirits in the community.
About five children were among those who spent the night in the community centre.
"We gave them mattresses on the ground. They thought it was a big party really and they were playing Playstation," Ms Newnham said.
"They had a ball."
An SES spokesman said flood waters in the Murray had hit 7.88m, similar to the October 2010 flood levels, and were still slowly rising.
Brad Lech rolls up his sleeves to help clean up a flooded home in Walwa.
Across the border in nearby Jingellic, six kilometres north of Walwa, the Murray River is at a major flood level but residents have so far been able to stay in their homes with no evacuation orders released.
About 250 kilometres east of Jingellic, Katamatite locals have begun to observe the damage to the tiny town of about 300 people, though they may remain isolated for several days as floodwaters slowly recede after peaking on Saturday
Flood waters cut the Victorian community off over the weekend with about 12 properties and one business inundated along the creek, about 20 kilometres south of Cobram.
Emergency crews were working to secure the levee at Nathalia, where floodwaters were expected to peak on Thursday at between 3.2m and 3.35m, which would be above the 1993 level.
"One of the things we have got on our side is time," Mr Skelton said.
Police warned against sightseeing in flood-ravaged areas after getting complaints about motorists driving through flooded roads, causing waves to wash into homes and businesses.
Cattle stranded near Jingellic from One side of the Valley to the other.
Residents have now turned their attention to preparing sand bags for the nearby communities of Naring and Muckatah which face flood threats.
Christine Ford said she had started to survey the damage to her house, which is for sale, and ripped meters of carpet up this morning.
"It was for sale. I don't think we'll sell it for a while now," Mrs Ford said.
"This is way bigger than than the '74 floods. I have never seen anything like this before.
"It really started dropping Saturday night. It was really sudden."
The townsfolk of Katamatite are beginning the big clean up.
In NSW almost 5000 people have been forced to flee their homes while others have been placed on high alert as water levels continue to rise.
The Riverina region, in the state's southwest, has become the focus for emergency services, with the Murrumbidgee River bursting its banks.
More than 1000 residents have been evacuated, mostly from Wagga Wagga's north and east, neighbouring Gumly Gumly and rural properties surrounding the city.
Wagga Wagga's Andrew Fitzgerald with his kids Amelia, 8, Paddy, 6, and Eloise, 3.
Downstream at Gundagai, about 60 people have been evacuated with 30 homes, businesses and the local racecourse flooded.
"This will be about the same as the flood in 1974," Gundagai mayor Abb McAllister said.
The Murrumbidgee River was due to peak in Wagga Wagga at 9.6 metres around midday and then again at more than 10 metres on Tuesday night.
"Our last flood was in December 2010 - we got through that okay but ... this will be a lot worse," Wagga Wagga mayor Kerry Pascoe said.
Flood waters lap at the edge of Wagga Wagga as the Murrumbidgee River rises.
Heavy rain that lashed Wagga Wagga over the weekend had eased by this morning but residents were also bracing for their worst flooding since 1974.
"Homes in North Wagga will absolutely get wet," State Emergency Service spokesman Phil Campbell said.
Forbes, in the central west, is also a major concern for authorities as the Lachlan River swells.
Mr Campbell says about 630 people were asked to evacuate in Forbes this morning. Others may be asked to flee later in the day.
A group of Numurkah mates sandbag part of the town, as the flood waters rise.
In Queensland two people were rescued from a house in the same street the man was found dead in, the Department of Community Safety said.
Earlier, a father and son stranded on top of their car were plucked to safety from racing floodwaters at nearby Tiaro.
The pair, aged 26 and 65, waited for more than three hours to be rescued.
They became stranded on the roof of their vehicle about 1.30am but the speed of the floodwaters on Mungar Road, near Myrtle Creek crossing, meant swift-water rescuers could not get to them.
Two crews in flood boats retrieved the father and son about 4.50am.
Local 24-hour rainfall totals topping 150mm are predicted today, especially around the Fraser and Sunshine coasts and adjoining inland areas.
Gympie Regional Council advises that several local roads are cut by flooding, and is asking drivers to limit travel to essential trips only.
A Numurkah resident floats around town on a kayak, assessing the damage.
Up to 300,000 sandbags are providing a grim last line of defence across Victoria's flood-stricken northeast where several families are likely to be isolated for days.
Some towns north of Shepparton have yet to cop the worst of the once-in-a-century floods, with emergency crews at Nathalia working to shore up the town's levee to protect 176 homes.
Seventeen properties outside the levee are being sandbagged.
Floodwaters in Nathalia are expected to peak on Thursday at between 3.2m and 3.35m, which would be above the 1993 level.
"One of the things we have got on our side is time," SES spokesman Mr Skelton said.
Police warned against sightseeing in flood-ravaged areas after getting complaints about motorists driving through flooded roads, causing waves to wash into homes and businesses.
Long-time Nathalia resident Beth Thompson said she was impressed by the construction of a pop up levee bank which separates her Weir St home from the rising creek.
"My son has been filling sandbags here. If this barrier works we won't need to worry," Mrs Thompson, who saw the 1956 and 1993 floods, said.
"It has been very efficiently put up and if it works it will be wonderful.
"If it (the water) comes up as high as they think, it could be the difference between the house being dry and being wet. You wouldn't need to sandbag if it works."
Preschool teacher Maureen Power said her Nathalia house was outside the levee bank and expected it to be isolated when waters peaked.
"The only access is by boat," Mrs Power, 54, said.
"They are all new houses so it is a bit unknown.
"I work in Echuca so I'll probably have to walk through water to get to the car. I'll go to Bendigo to stay with my daughter on the weekend because I won't be able to get home."
A Numurkah resident wasn't able to escape the flood damage.
Century-old rainfall records have also tumbled as a result of the deluge and forecasters have warned another heavy band of rain was expected later this week.
Mt Buffalo notched up the highest seven-day rainfall reading with a staggering 525mm, followed by Yarrawonga (277mm), Albury (256mm), Beechworth (245mm) and Wangaratta (241mm).
Speaking in Wangaratta yesterday, Premier Ted Baillieu said it appeared the worst was over for the northeast as emergency services focused on towns around Shepparton.
"It is fortunate that overnight the rain that might have fallen hasn't fallen as heavy as expected," he said.
SES North East regional officer John Newlands said the Upper Murray and Lower Kiewa remained at risk but the focus was on Shepparton.
Weather bureau forecaster Jacqui Westcombe said towns could get a reprieve from tomorrow but said another band of showers was forecast for the northeast from Thursday.
NSW flood evacuations THE SES have issued a flood evacuation order for Yenda and a flood warning order for Forbes as NSW's flood crisis continues.
Almost 5000 people have been forced to flee their homes during the worst flooding in NSW in decades while others have been placed on high alert as water levels continue to rise.
Nine more local government areas have been declared disaster zones following severe floods across NSW.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher said he was expecting to declare more local government areas by the end of the day.
Residents and business located in the local government areas of Young, Upper Lachlan, Boorowa, Weddin, Coolamon, Corowa, Gundagai, Snowy River and Cooma-Monaro will now be entitled to financial assistance.
The Riverina region, in the state's southwest, has become the focus for emergency services, with the Murrumbidgee River bursting its banks.
More than 1000 residents have been evacuated, mostly from Wagga Wagga's north and east, neighbouring Gumly Gumly and rural properties surrounding the city.
Downstream at Gundagai, about 60 people have been evacuated with 30 homes, businesses and the local racecourse flooded.
"This will be about the same as the flood in 1974," Gundagai mayor Abb McAllister said.
The Murrumbidgee River was due to peak in Wagga Wagga at 9.6m about noon and reach 106m tomorrow night.
"Our last flood was in December 2010 - we got through that okay but . . . this will be a lot worse," Wagga Wagga mayor Kerry Pascoe said.
Heavy rain that lashed Wagga Wagga over the weekend had eased this morning but residents were also bracing for their worst flooding since 1974.
"Homes in North Wagga will absolutely get wet," State Emergency Service spokesman Phil Campbell said.
The NSW SES issued an evacuation order for Yenda this afternoon. The evacuation boundaries are:
An evacuation centre has been established at Yoogali Sports Club.
The NSW SES also issued an evacuation warning for Forbes as the Forbes Iron Bridge peak was expected at 10.65m on Thursday.
The service was recommending residents prepare to evacuate within the next 48 hours.
The warning covers South West Forbes (Lakes Forbes to the Newell Highway), North Forbes and the CBD, the eastern residential area, southern Forbes and Apex Caravan Park.
At Naranderra the flood peak is expected to reach 8.8m on Thursday.
A community meeting will be held tonight at the Wagga High School at 7pm for residents in Wagga Wagga including north and east Wagga and Gumly Gumly.
A man has died after a car was swept off a road in heavy flooding in southeast Queensland.
The car was washed off Arborten Road at Glenwood, north of Gympie, on Monday morning and is still submerged, police say.
There are reports another car was washed off the same road, but police say they are unable to reach the location.
Authorities have urged the public not to enter floodwaters. Two people were rescued from a house in the same street the man was found dead in, the Department of Community Safety said.
Earlier, a father and son stranded on top of their car were plucked to safety from racing floodwaters at nearby Tiaro.
The pair, aged 26 and 65, waited for more than three hours to be rescued.
They became stranded on the roof of their vehicle about 1.30am (AEST) but the speed of the floodwaters on Mungar Road, near Myrtle Creek crossing, meant swift-water rescuers could not get to them.
Two crews in flood boats retrieved the father and son about 4.50am (AEST).
Local 24-hour rainfall totals topping 150mm are predicted on Monday, especially around the Fraser and Sunshine coasts and adjoining inland areas.
At 6am (AEST) on Monday the heaviest rain was falling near Tiaro, Glenwood, Gympie and Goomboorian.
In the three hours to 7am, 122mm of rainfall was recorded at Mount Wolvi, east of Gympie, and Coops Corner, south of Rainbow Beach.
The State Emergency Service responded to 47 requests for help across the Wide Bay area on Sunday night and into Monday morning.
The Department of Education has advised that nine schools in the area will be closed on Monday.
Theebine State School is isolated because of rising floodwaters but no students or staff are there.
Parents are being asked to collect their children from Cooran State School due to rising water levels.
Gympie Regional Council advises that several local roads are cut by flooding, and is asking drivers to limit travel to essential trips only.
SYDNEY - Australia's flood crisis deepened Monday, with hundreds forced to flee their homes in the rich agricultural land of the southeast and a man swept to his death by surging waters in Queensland.
Days of heavy rain have hammered the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, swelling rivers, flooding farmland and forcing the closure of bridges and roads.
Emergency officials said Monday they were concerned about the Riverina region in southwest New South Wales, where the Murrumbidgee river has burst its banks in some areas and inundated homes near Wagga Wagga.
"It's still a very dangerous situation right across the region," State Emergency Service spokesman James McTavish said of the district where more than 1,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
Downstream at Gundagai, about 30 homes and businesses have been flooded, with the water surpassing levels reached during a 2010 flood.
The waters have left several river systems dangerously swollen and more than 4,600 people subject to evacuation orders in New South Wales, with 2,500 stranded.
Authorities again warned people against driving their cars through floodwaters after more than 30 rescues overnight, including that of two adults and three children who had been trapped in a car in Wagga Wagga.
One man died at Araluen in southern New South Wales at the weekend after being washed downstream as he attempted to drive through floodwaters.
His two companions were rescued, one reportedly clinging to a tree.
The toll rose Monday after a man died when his car was swept off a road in heavy flooding in the southeast Queensland town of Glenwood, near Gympie.
Police said they had been unable to confirm a report that a second vehicle was also swept away.
Several small towns in the north of Victoria state were bracing for waters to peak.
Anticipation ofFloodingtimeresidentsMamuju Mamuju,KOMPAS.com-Residentsalong the banks ofthe riverinSo'do, about fivekilometers from the cityMamuju, WestSulawesi, anticipatingafloodof anxietyMamujutime.
"Now peoplecan notsleep welldue toContinuousrainsincemorning. Moreover, KaliMamujuoverflowup to twometersandhas inundatedhomesalong the riverNurdinsaid, residents, Sunday(03/04/2012) night.
Some residentspackedfurnitureandother valuablesfrom theafternoonbecause oftherisingfloodwatersinundateddozens of homesandeven theresidentsalong the river.
LuckysaidNurdin,thehousewife whowas washingclothesandthe peoplewhowerenotswepta carwashbecause ofthe directescapewhen he sawsigns oftheoverflowingriver.
Padadaafternoonhundreds oflocaltouristattractionsarerecreationalinnatureriverbaptismsMamujualsoscrambledtosavethemselves."The touristshad come tojumpat the sound ofrumblinginthe river,"he said.
Currentlyhe said,residentsalong the banks ofthe riverare stillwary ofthe overflow ofthe riverfor fear thatthings happen thatarenot desirable.
Although therainhad eased, he said,butrainchancesstilloccur inthe headwatersregion."Residentsare stillwarybecause thewateris stillmenggenngihouses.Some residentshavefled toaneighbor's houseisfarfromthe impact offloodhazards," saidNurdin.
Rivercausedfloodingandthe RiverAirTabunSeburuduoverflow afterheavyrainovernight."Floodslikethisusually last up totwodays," saidLayam,32, a resident ofNangaMerakai,KetungauCentralDistrict, on Sunday(4/3)evening.
Path that connects theCentralDistrictandKetungauDownstreamKetungauthisis the onlyland accessto theIndonesia-Malaysiaborderin Sintang.
Rise inwater levelispredicted tocontinue,given theintensity ofrainis still quitehigh,especiallyin theareaperhuluan."Judgingis now enteringthe rainyseason.It could happentide(flood)great,"saidBeni.
RecognizedBeni,floodingstreets ina veryvulnerableplaceKKI.Whenthat happens, thenaccesswill be paralyzedtransportation."Two-wheeledvehicleorfour-wheel drive, will not beable topass.The mostreliablepublictransportriver,"he explained.
Monitoring theEquatoron the ground,the waternotonlyflooded thestreets inKKI.Some streetsare inflood plains,such as theUrban VillageLeftKapuasHulu(KKU),Coppermine,SungaiDuriandid not escape froma pool ofwater.The water levelin the way ofthe averageadultcalforabout 30centimeters.(din)
Kotabaru(Reuters)-Floodscaused byoverflowingriversin the DistrictKotabaruBaharu, about 300kmsoutheastBanjarmasin, SouthKalimantanprovincial capitalthatkilled five peopleIrham, IqbalHussein, Henry and Matthew.
"The latest victimwas foundinfishmarketsunder theMarketProsperityKotabarunamedSmith(13)around 12.00pm,"saidtask forcememberagenciesof the Regional DisasterKotabaruSugeng,Sunday.
While theotherthreevictimswere killed,namely,Irham(13),Iqbal(13)andHussain(13)was foundstuckon the bridgenext to theoffice ofPoliceBaharuKotabaru.
WhileHenry(27)was foundstuckunder a bridgeinJalanPatmaragaabout three miles fromthe location ofcasualties.
When performingrescue, Henryallegedlynot wearinga life jacketorother safety devices,so thatheeasilysweptrain.
Previously,Head ofthe Regional Disaster ManagementAgencyTriBasukiRahmatclaimedKotabarudeployedabout 50personnelandsomemembers of theteam"Searchand Rescue"(SAR)Kotabaruand a number ofdiversto locatethe victimnamedHenryand Matthew.
While thesurvivorsof fivepersons,namely,AhmadRifani,Bayah,Bilki,Daniand the Son.
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