Krazymitch
January 12th, 2011, 04:23 AM
Several Brisbane suburbs have already been severely flooded with water levels still rising and threatening as many as 40,000 properties in the city.
Floodwaters poured into the city, engulfing landmarks such as Suncorp Stadium, which caught fire after water short-circuited a generator box.
The inner-city suburb of Rosalie has been inundated with water, with levels rising above waist-height.
Photos sent in by readers showed locals rowing past shops in Rosalie which were more than halfway submerged.
Debris and boats have been hurtling down the fast-flowing Brisbane River, heightening safety concerns, as the river surges towards 4.5m this afternoon — with an expected peak of 5.5m tomorrow.
Twelve people are dead and 67 others are missing, with fears the death toll could rise dramatically in coming days, after torrents of water swept through communities west of Brisbane.
More than 50 Brisbane suburbs are bracing for floodwaters.
FLOOD HELP: Useful links
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman says new flood modelling now indicates that 19,700 residential properties and 3500 commercial premises in 2100 streets in the city are likely to be completely inundated.
Another 12,000 residences and 2500 commercial properties will experience flooding across part of their land.
A further 2300 properties such as parks and vacant land will also be flooded.
Brisbane City Council crunched these numbers using computer modelling and latest data from the Bureau of Meteorology and SEQ Water.
About 10,000 cubic metres of water per second is tearing down the city reaches of the Brisbane River, with much of it coming from Wivenhoe Dam releases.
Authorities say they will scale back water releases from the dam over the next 36 hours to help ease the flooding.
Images of boats and debris being swept down the rising Brisbane River have highlighted the flood's devastating force.
Brisbane's iconic river restaurant Drift Cafe — formerly Oxley's on the River — is likely to sink today after breaking away from its pontoon and floating down river covered with chairs.
Footage also emerged of a speedboat smashing into two bridges along the river.
Some boat owners opted to brave the imminent danger and move their vessels downstream.
Brisbane resident Kelly Sergeant said: "I'm praying someone isn't hurt. It's all happened so quickly. I think it might take some people by surprise."
Two evacuation centres have opened for Brisbane residents and there are warnings the current blackouts in parts of the CBD and low-lying riverside suburbs could last for days
Floodwaters poured into the city, engulfing landmarks such as Suncorp Stadium, which caught fire after water short-circuited a generator box.
The inner-city suburb of Rosalie has been inundated with water, with levels rising above waist-height.
Photos sent in by readers showed locals rowing past shops in Rosalie which were more than halfway submerged.
Debris and boats have been hurtling down the fast-flowing Brisbane River, heightening safety concerns, as the river surges towards 4.5m this afternoon — with an expected peak of 5.5m tomorrow.
Twelve people are dead and 67 others are missing, with fears the death toll could rise dramatically in coming days, after torrents of water swept through communities west of Brisbane.
More than 50 Brisbane suburbs are bracing for floodwaters.
FLOOD HELP: Useful links
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman says new flood modelling now indicates that 19,700 residential properties and 3500 commercial premises in 2100 streets in the city are likely to be completely inundated.
Another 12,000 residences and 2500 commercial properties will experience flooding across part of their land.
A further 2300 properties such as parks and vacant land will also be flooded.
Brisbane City Council crunched these numbers using computer modelling and latest data from the Bureau of Meteorology and SEQ Water.
About 10,000 cubic metres of water per second is tearing down the city reaches of the Brisbane River, with much of it coming from Wivenhoe Dam releases.
Authorities say they will scale back water releases from the dam over the next 36 hours to help ease the flooding.
Images of boats and debris being swept down the rising Brisbane River have highlighted the flood's devastating force.
Brisbane's iconic river restaurant Drift Cafe — formerly Oxley's on the River — is likely to sink today after breaking away from its pontoon and floating down river covered with chairs.
Footage also emerged of a speedboat smashing into two bridges along the river.
Some boat owners opted to brave the imminent danger and move their vessels downstream.
Brisbane resident Kelly Sergeant said: "I'm praying someone isn't hurt. It's all happened so quickly. I think it might take some people by surprise."
Two evacuation centres have opened for Brisbane residents and there are warnings the current blackouts in parts of the CBD and low-lying riverside suburbs could last for days