Large parts of North Queensland have been smashed with 300m of rainfall and flash flooding today, leaving roads swamped and homes damaged.
Townsville was in the firing line as relentless rainfall closed roads, inundated homes and destroyed cars.
An elderly man had to be helped by neighbours after he took a fall in floodwaters in Townsville, after the sudden rain caught many residents by surprise.
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A shopping centre carpark was also flooded with a wall of water today and the rain cut access to crucial roads and closed down schools.
Ingham was also hit with flooding and two elderly women needed to be rescued from their cars.
Queensland Police said the SES responded to nine call-outs earlier today related to inundation.
The severe deluge has also triggered fears of melioidosis, a deadly bacterial infection born from dirty floodwaters.
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Queensland Health recorded 111 melioidosis cases as of March 2, more than three times the number for the same period in 2024, with the majority in Cairns and Townsville.
The rainfall may have eased but a major flooding threat remains ongoing across the state’s north.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the heavier rain has moved down to Queensland’s south-east.
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There are still large amounts of water in catchments and a major flood warning has been issued for the Bohle River, west of Townsville.
The BoM said wet conditions may persist over the next few days but it won’t be anywhere near as heavy or widespread as today’s weather.
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