Queensland is bracing itself for further flooding as Tropical Cyclone Koji makes its way ashore. The state is facing the brunt of intense rain and powerful wind gusts, causing significant disruptions in areas along the far north coast.
Winds reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h knocked over trees and fences as the cyclone moved south-southwest. Residents from Bowen to Mackay found themselves directly in the path of this severe weather system, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology early Sunday morning.
In Marian, approximately 30 kilometers west of Mackay, local residents are grappling with rising water levels and closed roads as conditions worsen. "We are getting absolutely smashed," expressed Stephanie, a mother of one, as she described the situation in her community. "Our fence is down, our neighbor’s fence is down too. The rain is coming in sideways. There’s nothing we can do but wait it out. The backyard is flooded – it’s much worse than we anticipated."
The rainfall has been torrential, with reports indicating that Gargutt recorded an astonishing 146mm of rain within just two hours.
In Mackay, tourist Josephine Tobias, who was staying at a local caravan park, remarked on how the locals were handling the storm. "Honestly, so far, it’s not too bad here at the moment. We opted to stay, and while it’s wet and windy, everything seems alright," she said. "This is my first experience with a cyclone, but everyone keeps assuring me it’s just a category one, so I shouldn’t panic. It feels like a really bad storm that just won’t quit."
Meanwhile, in Bowen, residents remain vigilant as the cyclone approaches. Karyn, the manager of Coral Cove Apartments, noted, "The wind just suddenly changed direction. It had been blowing from the south all night, and now it’s shifted in the last half hour. While it’s been raining intermittently and the winds are strong, we still have power."
Heavy rains are currently pummeling Ayr and Mackay, with wind gusts reaching up to 100 km/h affecting the popular tourist destination of the Whitsunday Islands. Rainfalls overnight have reached up to 200mm west of Mackay, with expectations that more heavy rain will continue for the next couple of days.
"Cyclone Koji is making landfall between Ayr and Bowen," stated Dean Narramore, a senior forecaster from the Bureau of Meteorology. "We’re witnessing a significant amount of rainfall circulating around the cyclone. It's an imbalanced system, with the heaviest rainfall occurring near and well to the south of Koji, which raises serious concerns for the residents and communities from the Ayr and Bowen regions, extending through the Whitsundays."
He added, "This situation is bringing strong winds, some of which may cause damage, along with widespread heavy rainfall leading to flooding in the upcoming days, compounding the issues already being faced in parts of Queensland."
After midday, Narramore informed ABC TV that the cyclone had now weakened and was classified as an ex-Tropical Cyclone. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the expected deluge, warning, "Dangerous and potentially life-threatening flash flooding poses a major threat along a significant stretch of Queensland’s coastline." He made this statement while visiting bushfire-stricken communities in Victoria, where at least 300 structures have been lost.
"The situation is fluid and likely to change frequently, so it's vital for people to keep updated via local emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology," he advised.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli commended the preparedness of communities that have previously faced floods, stating, "I truly believe that residents have done a fantastic job in preparing for the impending rain. If the people of Queensland continue this level of readiness, I am confident we will manage the aftermath effectively."
Warnings are currently in effect for much of the northeastern Queensland coast from Townsville to Mackay, including Bowen, Proserpine, and the Whitsunday Islands. As heavy rains lead to flash flooding risks, particularly between Townsville and St Lawrence, high tides are also anticipated between Cardwell and Mackay, according to meteorological reports.
These heavy downpours could exacerbate conditions in already saturated catchment areas. After making its way inland on Sunday morning, it is expected that the gales will diminish quickly as Koji continues to weaken and move westward.
In the northwestern region, severe flooding continues to impact Gulf Country communities, where significant livestock losses are projected, highlighting the dire consequences of such natural disasters.
