It's being called a disaster of biblical proportions ...
- affecting around 25 towns and cities and 250,000 people,
- closing 300 roads, including 9 major highways,
- flooding 4 major river basins,
- reaching a level of 15 metres high (around 50 feet) is some areas,
- resulting in 11 deaths,
- causing an estimated $5 billion damage.
I thought I'd add a link to the latest news report from one of our most respected news sources. This is the latest update as of midday today:
No respite for flood-stricken Queensland
Already the facts and figures I wrote about in this post have drastically changed. The flooding has now affected three-quarters or our state and they death toll has risen.
I've now updated ... and I've posted once more about the disaster that just keeps on unfolding here. Click on this link:
My latest post
We've been following the news each evening and it just seems to get worse and worse. First the horror for the people as they fled their homes, and now the understanding that the agricultural industry has been wiped out for the year, at the least, and that the effect will be felt globally.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to my fellow Australians in Queensland! I feel so fortunate that our endless days in Melbourne did not reach the next stage of flooding!
ReplyDeleteA very moving mosaic!
Pondside ... the flooding has been going on in various parts of our state for weeks now and it's moved down to northern New South Wales as well. You're so right about the effects ... this has severely impacted our agricultural and mining resources and that will have a run-on effect to other countries dependent on these industries.
ReplyDeleteBernie, you are so lucky that you and your family are away from this. The photos look like Katrina, how terrible. What is happening to our weather worldwide? Our southern states are having more snowfall than we are and ice.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Bernie, it is heart-wrenching to see these photos. I hope things will return to normal soon.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry...we've been watching this in the news! My heart goes out to you and we will keep you in our prayers! ♥
ReplyDeleteGreyscale ... we're fortunate up here too that our endless days of rain didn't cause terrible flooding here. Of course, it all contributed to the flooding down in central and southern Qld ... we were just plain lucky!
ReplyDeleteEileen, apparently, according to the experts, this flooding is being attributed to a La Nina event that occured and is expected to continue occuring out in the Pacific basin. After a 14-year Australia-wide dry spell resulting from an El Nino event, the sudden change to La Nina was devastating. It's all just words to me really ... it really means Mother Natue is rather unpredictable despite our best attempts to understand her!
Lotusleaf, it's going to be a long road to recovery for many, many people and townships ... and for our state's economy as well. I think we'll see the effects of this for some time to come.
I am so sorry to hear about the flooding in your state, but glad it has not happend to you. My thoughts and prayers are with those in need. Take care:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sobering photos. It's a good reminder to us to take one day at a time and appreciate what we have today.
ReplyDeleteBernie, the forces of nature are no match for any of us, are they?! I'm happy to know you are fine but my heart goes out to those who are dealing with this and have lost their homes and/or loved ones. The animals have my sympathy, too;-)
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories of Tropical Allison and Hurricane Ike. Water everywhere. So sad.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie; The pictures tell it how devastating it is for the families to lose their homes. I also feel sorry for all the creatures.I have lived for many years along the Clarence river, one of the big rivers and have experienced a few floods, but never something like this.
ReplyDeleteWe have been watching the story on the news here in the states -- what a terrible tragedy! My heart goes out to all those who have lost so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these pictures. It really paints a picture of the overwhelming disaster in Queensland. My thoughts are with the suffering.
ReplyDeleteThe news has been full of the flooding in your country. It is so devasting to have people lose their homes and their belongings. It is a terrible tragedy.
ReplyDeleteBernie....Things look like they are actually getting worse. Your collages make it all so real. Thanks for sharing. I have lived through many hurricanes in south Florida, but never anything like this. We did have one hurricane hit us here in VA which was very similar. It was awful! Genie
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for the those who are in the midst of this devastating flooding... :-(
ReplyDeleteThis is the thing with Blogland, we have a much smaller world than before and now we know people who live in places where tragedy strikes. We've been watching this story and it just never seems to end. My prayers are with your countrymen and I pray, too, that there will be an end to such devastation. It boggles the mind...
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you did the mosaic Bernie. I thought about doing something similar but couldn't bring myself to do it. We have family and friends in Rockhampton and Marborough and it's all a bit too close.
ReplyDelete... The rain still keeps pouring down here and they predict it will keep comong for a few more days at least...
Missy I am so sorry to hear that. I hope the family will be able to build up again. Bernieh, I've followed the floods in QLD and WA. Not many people know about this one either. It is a more remote area and probably the reason why, but just the same, flood. Now it spills into NSW and you are so right it will have a snowball effect and other countries will feel the effects as well. It is so hard to believe as I was driving through all of that country a year ago and it was dry as a bone. Yet I do know about rains as we have also been cut off in summertime as the bridge was flooded further North.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures and all we can see on youtube and the news are devastating, it will be years before things will be back to normal.
Thank you for the figures, also the size of the state as I'd like to send them to overseas family who have no idea about the vastness of the stricken area. All the best,glad you are safe there in the mountains.
Dear Bernie, This is a heartbreaking post. It is hard to know of so much suffering and loss . . . to both humans and all the flora and fauna of your homeland. I cannot imagine how people cope with this sort of natural disaster. I am relieved to read that you and yours are safe and do hope for the waters to recede quickly to a safe level for everyone. I guess the best I can do besides wishing and praying for your Queensland, is to be grateful for the normal life I have right now. I filled with gratitude.
ReplyDeleteLavender Dreams ... thank you, I think the people affected will need all the prayers they can get.
ReplyDeleteThanks also to Garden of Threads, Podso and Jan for your thoughtful comments.
Snap, it sounds as if you've had some experience of cyclones and the devastation left behind when they hit and then turn into rain derpressions.
Titania, it's good to know you're OK. It seems the flooding has not reached you.
To Mary, Jenni, Valerie, Genie, Stephanie and Vee ... I totally agree with your sentiments.
Missy, so sorry to hear that you have family and friends caught up in this tragedy. I do hope they're doing OK. Brissie looks set for flash flooding in some parts as well.
Marguerite ... lovely to hear from you. I mentioned in a previous post that there was flooding in Western Australia as well ... twice in a couple of weeks in the Gascoyne area. It's just unbelievable! Not the flooding, but the scale of it all! North Queensland in looking good right now even in the midst of the heat and humidity! Is it still dry in your spot over there?
Hi Bernie, I am saddened with this devastating disaster. We saw it on TV. My thoughts are with everyone affected.
ReplyDeleteYour picture mosaics tells a thousand words! Our east coast areas are also experiencing the same fate but not as bad as Queensland! Very touching post Bernie..:(
ReplyDeleteBernie, this is such a heartbreaking blog. The bottom left photo bought tears to my eyes it speaks volumes. I feel angry that I have heard nothing of a disaster appeal I would willingly donate Australia is a generous country helping its fellow man in times of need where is the help for your country. I am so grateful that you my friend and your family are safe and well. I hope and pray the rains stop and the long road to recovery can begin. I hope the snake made it.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a pretty sight. I heard so much about the flooding. I visited Mossman and Port Douglas under the flood period a few years ago and it was really dreadful. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely music by the way.
Take Care/ Tyra
So sorry you have so much tragedy and heartbreak around you. I cannot even fathom the vastness of this flood. Know that you have all been in our prayers! Cathy
ReplyDeleteSo terrible. My heart goes out to those folks having to deal with that horror.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie. I have been thinking of you. I have been seeing in the news stories of the disastrous flooding in Queensland. My heart goes out to all of those who have lost so much and the animals too. Such a large flood is hard to comprehend until you see the pictures coming out of Australia.It is just heartbreaking. Take care my friend.
ReplyDeleteOh Bernie, it's been so sad seeing all this in the news. I must say though, some of those photographs really bring the magnitude of this flood home. That snake photo is remarkable, and the wallaby surrounded by water too. It's difficult for everyone, human and animal alike. Our house literally had a river run through it about 13 years ago, although nothing on this scale. It was over three months after the flood waters receded before life started to resemble 'normal' again. I expect it will be years before all this damage is repaired, I just hope that it doesn't become out of sight, out of mind, once the floods recede. People will need help to recover from this for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteThat truly is a heartbreaking tragedy. We have so much to be thankful for. My heart goes out to all those affected by the floods, and famines and tragedies throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteYour photos remind me so much of the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd here in Eastern North Carolina in 1999. There were 35 deaths from the floods in North Carolina and more in other areas. A flood is so heartbreaking and difficult to recover from. My heart goes out to those in Queensland.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for your fellow Queenslanders. Hopefully all this will be over soon and those affected can find their lives again.
ReplyDeleteI've bee seeing the news on TV and it really is depressing. I am glad you are safe Bernie. However, i wonder what's happening to people i know who are living in other parts of Queensland, we've been out of contact but they always come to visit my thoughts and concern. Sometimes it is fire, now it is flood. I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all who've made comments ... the disaster took a turn for the absolute worse this week, with an inland tsunami surging through Toowoomba on the Great Dividing Range and then coming down the range into various river systems. The death toll has risen and the number of people missing is somewhere around 78 now. It's just so devastating ... every day there seems to be worse news!
ReplyDeleteBernie
ReplyDeleteI've been following the flooding in all various media I can find. It is so very heartbreaking to see the images.
Just yesterday I saw the latest story on the national news, and my thoughts go out to all in Queensland and Australia.
My thoughts and prayers echo all the other comments, but I didn't want to visit without leaving them.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin lives near where the dam broke. He and his family are Ok as they were all in town on various chores but they cant get home now as they live high up and the road has been washed away. He is concerned about his horses and dogs and luckily a neighbour (though not close as you can imaagine) has been to feed the dogs. I have another cousin who lives in Brisbane (not sure whereabouts) and she was flooded just before Christmas and is worried again. My aunt ever upbeat says oh well there is a house between us and the nearest creek so we will get some notice!!
ReplyDeleteIt makes the floods we have here in the Uk look pathetic but I think that no matter where you live going through something like this must be absolutely awful, soul destroying, scary and heartbreaking
Hi Bernie - such a salutory post and a collage that speaks volumes for the disaster. Puts things in perspective for those of us unaffected. May it soon end
ReplyDeleteLaura
Bernie, I have seen reports of the terrible floods in your state and wondered if you were affected. I am glad you and you loved ones are safe, but my heart goes out to those who are suffering. Your photos express the tragedy better than words.
ReplyDeleteBernie, I'm glad to hear that you're safe. I just looked at where you are on the map, and it looks like the most recent expansion of the flooding, in the Brisbane area, is far south of you. -Jean
ReplyDeleteThese floods are quite shocking indeed, will be sure to donate to the disaster appeal. Lets hope no more lives are lost as a result of these floods.
ReplyDeleteBernie, it was so heartbreaking to see the reports on the TV about the floods, and I wondered if you had been affected personally, and hoped you had not. Thankyou for your images, and yes the bottom left photo really tells the story......
ReplyDelete