The Australian Defense Forces yesterday delivered 70,000 sandbags, deployed amphibious cargo vehicles and helped pluck flashlight-wielding residents from their rooftops, as monsoon rains drenched the northern state of Queensland. The authorities late on Sunday were forced to open floodgates of a major dam, unleashing what they called “dangerous and high velocity flows.”In hard-hit Townsville, vehicles were mostly submerged, with picket fences barely poking through waist-deep flood waters. “We’ve never seen so much water in our lives,” local radio journalist Gabi Elgood said. About 400 Townsville residents have sought shelter at nearby Lavarak military barracks. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the communities face more difficulties ahead.

Source: Taipei Times February 04, 2019 15:56 UTC