Thousands of residents living in one famous Aussie city are facing a humanitarian crisis after they became cut off by raging flood waters.
Authorities closed two main bridges in Bundaberg on Tuesday which could be overwhelmed if flood waters rise much higher.
Residents were given evacuations orders but those choosing to stay behind could be left without access to food or medication for days.
It is the worst flooding in the city since 2013.
A warning was issued by Bundaberg Regional Council today alerting residents to the bridges’ closures at 3pm.
“People in Bundaberg North, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South and Bundaberg Central should leave immediately due to major flooding on the Burnett River which will cause property inundation and isolation. Your life is at risk,” the warning read.
“The Bundaberg Recreational Precinct, located at 7 Kendalls Rd, Branyan (access Via Kendalls Rd), has been established as an evacuation centre.
“If residents of Bundaberg North have no power there are manual flood gauge boards on Wolca Street that replicate the levels of the Targo Street flood gauge. Transportation may be out of service. You will become isolated until flood waters recede.”
The Burnett River at Bundaberg was 6.57m and rising at 3.20pm, approaching the major flood level of 7m. The expected peak is 7.5-7.6m.
Premier David Crisafulli said that thousands of residents could be cut off for days without any access to food or medication, with more than 400 homes at risk of flooding.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Crisafulli said there had been a lot of door knocking in the city.
“We’ve also pre-position a lot of assets. There’s an extra 30 police who have arrived to bolster the local troops,” he said.
“There is water police that are joining them. We’ve got additional volunteers from the state emergency services across the state. Fireys, ambos, have all come in, and what they do is they work with the locals who have that local know how on the ground, and by doing so, we can make sure that the assets are there, that are pre-position.
“We’ve got full swiftwater rescue crews, we’ve got access to several helicopters.”
