Woman dies in Australian flood as thousands flee homes

A woman has died in Australia and thousands have been forced to flee their homes after torrential rainfall has caused flooding in northern Queensland.

Authorities are warning that flood waters could rise up to second-storey level in a situation they described as dangerous and life-threatening.

More than 700mm (26in) of rain has fallen on parts of the North Queensland in the past 24 hours and there is concern that “record rainfalls” will continue into Monday, according to Queensland State Premier David Crisafulli.

Meteorologists say these could be the worst floods in the region in more than 60 years.

Crisafulli said conditions were unlike anything northern Queensland had experienced “for a long time”.

“It’s not just the intensity, but it’s also the longevity of it,” he told Australian broadcaster ABC.

Thousands of people living in the city of Townsville were told to leave their homes by midday on Sunday while authorities brought in 100,000 sandbags to block floodwater.

Parts of the road between Townsville and the tourist centre of Cairns have been cut off, hampering efforts to get rescue teams and sandbags to the area.