Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Australian city of Brisbane braces for flooding
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Australian city of Brisbane braces for flooding
AP - Monday, January 3
Send
IM Story
Print
BRISBANE, Australia – Military planes were flying food and other supplies toward a major city being slowly swamped in Australia's flood emergency on Monday, and police were increasing patrols in evacuated regions amid reports of looting.
Floodwaters that cover an area the size of France and Germany combined are draining slowly toward Australia's northeast coast, filling bulging rivers to overflowing and inundating at least 22 towns and cities in the cattle and fruit and vegetable farming region.
A 41-year-old woman who was swept to her death in front of her family on Saturday in Burketown, in hardest-hit Queensland state, was the only confirmed victim so far of the flood crisis, which began building shortly before Christmas after days of drenching tropical rain. Searches were under way for two other people, men in separate locations in Queensland, who were missing after being last seen in the floodwaters.
State authorities say about 200,000 people have been affected by the floods, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday extended emergency relief to those affected, including low-interest loans to farmers to begin cleaning up and get their businesses running again.
"This is a major natural disaster and recovery will take a significant amount of time," Gillard said in a statement.
In Rockhampton, a coastal city of about 75,000 people, waters from the still-swelling Fitzroy River closed the airport, cut the main highway leading to the state capital of Brisbane, and sent scores of families to abandon their homes for relief centers set up on high ground.
Authorities warned the Fitzroy would continue rising until late Tuesday or early Wednesday local time.
Officials have been evacuating Rockhampton residents for days. Mayor Brad Carter warned about 40 percent of the city could be affected by the surging waters, and residents could be forced to wait at least two weeks before returning home.
Residents emptied supermarket shelves of food and bottled water in recent days as they stocked up to reduce the need to get around in the waist-deep waters.
Queensland's Deputy Police Commissioner and State Disaster Coordinator Ian Stewart said military planes would be used Monday to resupply Rockhampton, flying supplies to towns farther north that would then be trucked in to the city.
Stewart said police had increased their patrols of flooded towns _ television footage and news photographs showed uniformed officers wading thigh-deep through floodwaters _ and had not confirmed any reports of looting.
Some residents, however, said cars and homes had been broken into and items stolen.
Rockhampton resident Tanya Hallam said she was woken up by dogs barking in the street before dawn and found her car broken into when she went to investigate.
"But they didn't just do our car _ they did nine in total in the street. So it's disheartening that people sink to that level," Hallam told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
The wet weather that triggered the flooding has eased, and water levels were dropping in some towns. But officials said about 1,000 people were living in evacuation centers across Queensland, and it may be a month before the floodwaters dry up completely.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Pakistan plunged into fresh political turmoil AFP - Monday, January 3
South Korea tells Pyongyang door to dialogue open Reuters - Monday, January 3
Australian floods submerge towns, coal exports hit Reuters - Monday, January 3
Dozens injured in Australian cinema roof collapse AFP - Monday, January 3
Shine taken off Australia at start of final Ashes Test AFP - Monday, January 3
News Search
Top Stories
Hasta la Vista: Arnie quits as California governor
Refusal to up debt ceiling 'catastrophic': Obama aide
Winterkorn to remain at Volkswagen helm until end-2016
Falling blackbirds baffle Arkansas officials
Brazil's new president starts work, meets leaders
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
New smoking laws takes force in Spain
Viking wolves return for first solar eclipse of 2011
Britain set for rocky economic ride in 2011
Anna Chapman stars in New Year 'Soviet spy film'
No pardon for Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 3 January 2011 Egypt holds seven for questioning after church blast
Russia's liberal leader Nemtsov jailed for 15 days: report
Stoning of Iran woman could be quashed: judiciary
iPhone alarm glitch leaves users fuming
Falling blackbirds baffle Arkansas officials
Over 10,000 died in Afghan violence in 2010
Sweden bomber's wife denies knowledge of attack
Iran says shot down two spy planes in Gulf
Spain's bars go smoke-free in tough new law
Major 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Chile
|
iPhone alarm glitch leaves users fuming
Israeli troops kill Palestinian at West Bank checkpoint
|
Russian 'arms dealer' Bout 'rejected plea bargain'
Kremlin critic Nemtsov and two others jailed
|
Iran Guards shoot down two 'Western spy' drones
Pakistan's main government coalition partner quits
"Little Fockers" leads depressed new year box office
Asian ship sets sail with Gaza aid
More than 1,000 birds fall dead from Arkansas sky
'Little Fockers' laughs its way to box office lead
Pakistan government in crisis as coalition partner quits
Spain's bars and restaurants go smoke-free in tough new law
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China critic and Hong Kong democrat dies at 79
Apple wakes up to iPhone alarm glitch on New Year's
|
"Little Fockers" leads depressed new year box office
Expedia dumps American Airlines listings
|
Cannes-winning Swede Oscarsson feared dead in fire
S.Korea clamps down on illegal whale-hunting
Rock great Chuck Berry falls ill during New Year's show
|
Little Fockers leads depressed new year box office
|
Ethnic discrimination infests Afghan army, soldiers say
US-TECH Summary
Coptics protesting bombing clash with Egypt police
|
Egypt minister pelted, fears of sectarian unrest
Apple wakes up to iPhone alarm glitch on New Year's
Strong 7.1 magnitude quake hits Chile, no injuries
|
Hasta la Vista: Arnie quits as California governor
Refusal to up debt ceiling 'catastrophic': Obama aide
Pakistan PM to meet opposition on political turmoil
|
Winterkorn to remain at Volkswagen helm until end-2016
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo resists African demands he step down
|
Australian floods submerge towns, coal exports hit
|
Australian military flies in flood relief supplies
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
South Korea tells Pyongyang door to dialogue open
|
US Korea envoys head to east Asia
Shine taken off Australia at start of final Ashes Test
Judo deaths alarm Japanese parents
Pakistan's main government coalition partner quits
Australian city of Brisbane braces for flooding
Fockers, True Grit lead soft new year box office
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
Goldman, Digital Sky Technologies invest in Facebook: report
|
CES gadget fest sizzle fizzles
|
Apple's iPhone woes continue as some in Asia sleep in
|
Google exploring digital newsstand: report
|
"Another Year," another Oscar bet for Mike Leigh
Intel woos Hollywood studios with new microchip
|
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
Sales of electronic cigarettes rise, and so does criticism
Qualcomm to build $1 billion panel plant in Taiwan
|
Spanish downturn ends immigrants' dream of better life
iGate cancels briefing; Patni deal was expected
|
Rock great Chuck Berry falls ill at New Year's show
Palestine National Orchestra makes debut in Israel
Spain's bars and restaurants go smoke-free in tough new law
Actor David Arquette in rehab: reports
|
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's lower leg to be amputated
|
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
|
Fockers, True Grit lead soft new year box office
|
Intel woos Hollywood studios with new microchip
|
Another Year, another Oscar bet for Mike Leigh
|
Recognition for Phil Ochs in powerful documentary
|
News
Iran hangs seven convicted drug smugglers
News
News
Bomb blasts hit Swiss, Chilean embassies in Rome
Police: Bomb kills civilian in west Afghanistan
"30 Rock" Voted Least Ethical TV Show In New Study
Afghan violence in 2010 kills thousands: government
|
Attack on intel service in northeast Iraq wounds 28
|
U.S. renews Mideast peace bid after holiday break
|
Australian military rushes supplies to flood zone
Macau gaming revenue hits record in 2010
Australian floods submerge towns
Policeman shot dead in northeastern Nigeria
|
Australia waste early hard work in final Test
Taking Brazil's helm, Rousseff nods to Wall Street
|
S.Korea president holds out hope of N.Korea talks
Thai teenager who left nine dead to be sent to girls' home
Drunk German arrested for 'killing' Thai motorcyclist
South Korea tells Pyongyang door to dialogue open
Organic farming blooms in Serbia
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor to have leg amputated: report
Australian cinema roof collapses, injuring 36: police
Actor David Arquette in rehab: reports
S.Korea SK Energy spins off units; renamed as SK Innovation
News
News
POSCO to tap Africa,Siberia,poles for resources-chairman
News
Qualcomm to build $1 billion panel plant in Taiwan
S.Korea won at 6-wk closing high on upbeat data, stock buying
China announces nuclear fuel breakthrough
Nintendo warns children not to play new player in 3D
|
Qualcomm to build $1 bln panel plant in Taiwan
Barnes & Noble says holiday same-store sales up 9.7 percent
|
Pakistani president vows support for embattled PM
Seoul shares set record closing high
China pledges support for troubled Spain economy
Analysis: Space a frontier too far for U.S.-China cooperation
|
Pakistani stocks down on political crisis
Black leaders in Chicago unite behind former senator Braun
100,000 fish dead in Arkansas after thousands of birds drop from sky
"30 Rock" Voted Least Ethical TV Show In New Study
Advocates of 9/11 James Zadroga bill welcome Obama signature
Sleep apnea therapy shown to increase daytime energy
FDA Warns People Away From Deadly Weight-Loss Product
Rock and roll icon Chuck Berry collapses on stage
Schwarzenegger ends term as California governor
Patni deal with iGate, Apax still on-source
iGate-Patni deal still on, delays procedural: source
Goldman deal 'values Facebook at $50 billion'
News
Qualcomm to build $1 bln panel plant in Taiwan
Usual Suspects star Pete Postlethwaite dies
|
Google moving in on Apple's digital newsstand
Google eyes smaller players after Groupon-report
European debt crisis a boon for British blogger
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights