A second woman has been confirmed dead due to flooding that has caused significant devastation in communities in northern Australia.
The body of an 82-year-old woman was discovered in a cane paddock in Queensland on Tuesday, following the death of a 63-year-old woman whose dinghy overturned during a rescue attempt two days earlier.
The region has been experiencing heavy rain since Saturday, with parts of northern Queensland receiving nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet) of rain.
Although conditions began to improve by Tuesday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli cautioned that the situation was still "a disaster that's going to test the resolve of people." Thousands had started to return home as the weather eased up.
In Townsville, where predicted flooding levels did not occur, locals were relieved by the news. Townsville Local Disaster Management Group chair Andrew Robinson stated, "We believe that the danger has passed."
Some residents, like Jo Berry, shared their experiences with the BBC, noting the anxiety caused by the rainy weather. Berry, a long-time resident, mentioned, "People talk about PTSD when it rains here, and I totally understand."
Further north in towns such as Ingham and Cardwell, power outages and damaged roads have hindered damage assessments. Crisafulli described the initial reports of damage as "quite frankly incredible."
The flooding has caused significant damage to homes, crops, and coastlines in the area, according to local MP Nick Dametto.
Ingham, with fewer than 5,000 residents, faced tragedy when a woman died in an SES dinghy incident during a rescue operation. Crisafulli emphasized the importance of the recovery efforts and the need to restore power to isolated communities.
Northern Queensland, due to its tropical location, is susceptible to severe weather events such as cyclones and flooding.
Local resident and climate expert Scott Heron highlighted the increasing severity of extreme weather events, urging policymakers to consider climate change implications in their long-term planning efforts, including infrastructure projects like the Bruce Highway.