Queensland residents are on edge with the Brisbane River expected to be hit by two potentially catastrophic peaks in the next 24 hours – with seven dead, a young man missing and 15,000 homes already underwater.
The Brisbane River peaked at 4m at 8am on Monday morning, the highest level seen since the devastating floods of 2011 – with authorities warning residents of 140 suburbs.
More than 53,000 homes are without power with 1,500 residents seeking shelter in evacuation centres as the rain heads south with warnings of flash flooding for parts of the Gold Coast.
A desperate search was underway on Monday afternoon for a young father who vanished amid the flood crisis.
Boats and other debris have washed up at Milton ferry terminal in Brisbane following heavy rain and widespread floods
Queensland has recorded its heaviest three day rainfall total ever. Above, a dramatic weather map showing wet weather conditions on Monday
Resident Jillian Handyside inspects the devastation from the front door of her flooded home in Milton in Brisbane’s inner west
A desperate search continues for a young father feared missing in floodwaters at Goodna (pictured underwater) west of Brisbane
There are grave fears for Cameron Rogers (pictured) who hasn’t been seen since returning to his flooded Goodna home
Cameron Rogers, 32, hasn’t seen been since since returning to his flooded Goodna home west of Brisbane on Sunday night to collect the family pets and move personal belongings to higher ground.
It’s understood he dropped off his fiancee and his child at a friend’s place before returning home.
He later contacted a friend to meet at the Goodna train station but has seen or heard from since.
Mr Rogers’ frantic sister told Nine News the family are beside themselves.
‘She tells me the police and SES have been checking his home. He’s not there. His car remains at the train station. So far there has been no sign of Cameron this morning,’ reporter Jess Millward said.
The M1 and Bruce Highway remain closed due to flooding.
Residents in low-lying areas river are preparing to evacuate, including in Brisbane CBD, Newstead, West End, New Farm, Milton, St Lucia, Bulimba, South Brisbane, Toowong and Rocklea.
Kayak was the only transport option for these residents to get around in the flooded Brisbane suburb of Rosalie
The entire riverside inner Brisbane suburb of Milton is underwater as residents inspect the devastation via boat
People carrying sand bags are seen wadding through flood waters on Nash Street in the suburb of Rosalie
Floodwaters have cut off arterial roads in Milton, Brisbane, leaving some residents stranded in their homes
The floods are ‘very different’ to 2011 due to five consecutive days of rain.
‘No-one has seen this amount of rain in such a short period of time over our entire south-east catchment zone,’ Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters at a briefing on Monday.
‘This was an unpredictable rain bomb across entire southeast Queensland.
She said the flood emergency would last for another three days.
Untethered boats and pontoons caused carnage on the swollen Brisbane River as the 1000mm rain bomb continued to smash south-east Queensland.
Residents in low lying streets returned to their flooded homes via kayak, boats and other water vessels to inspect the damage while others fled to higher ground.
Upper Springbrook near the Gold Coast was the wettest part of state with 530mm in the last 24 hours while Bracken Ridge in Brisbane’s north received 444mm.
A man wades through floodwaters reaching up to his shoulders in Milton, Brisbane
The rain has headed south with life-threatening flash flooding recorded in the Tallebudgera and Currumbin valleys on the southern Gold Coast on Monday morning.
‘Shelter in place unless it is unsafe to do so. Access to area is cut and inaccessible in multiple places,’ a QFES alert read.
The Bureau Of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning issued for south-east Queensland with flash flooding in areas such as Coolangatta likely.
QFES have made more than 100 swift-water rescues amid 8000 calls for help in the Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast since 3pm on Sunday
Boats are piled together after they were thrashed around by floodwaters at Milton ferry terminal in Brisbane
