The Watchers - 1/28/13, By Chillymanjaro
The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Oswald impacted Australia. Two people were missing and the body of a third person was recovered from raging floodwaters as severe storms pounded northeastern Australia on January 27, 2013 , forcing more than 1,000 to flee their homes. The Insurance Council of Australia declared a statewide catastrophe in several towns and cities and that major flood warnings had been issued. About 1-1.5 metres of rain was estimated to have fallen since the storms began. The rain depression is expected to finally mobilise southward overnight to begin tormenting the southeast.
Satellite image of Australia on January 27, 2013 (Credit: LANCE/MODIS/WorldView)
Heavy rains have left many rivers in Queensland flooded. Hundreds of people have been evacuated due to the flood risk by Burnett River in the towns of Gladstone and Bundaberg. Meteorologists in Australia warned of potential of flooding in Bundaberg that could cause rivers to rise to levels not reached in the last 70 years. The velocity of the water, the rises in the water levels and water speed of 40 knots means that literally houses, particularly in north Bundaberg, and maybe other locations, could be swept away. Authorities are saying the Burnett River already reached 9.15 m. Major flooding is also occurring at Mundubbera and Gayndah. According to Bureau of Meteorology, The Burnett River at Walla is currently around 22.9 m and beginning to rise as water from the upper Burnett arrives. The current level is above the December 2010 flood (20.10 m). People in flood prone or low-lying areas should consider evacuation or seek higher ground. Bundaberg was among dozens of towns devastated by floods in Queensland two years ago that claimed 35 lives.
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