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Flooding twice the size of Victoria has inundated parts of inland Queensland, with more rain expected.
It is considered the worst flooding seen in the region in more than 50 years, triggering fears of widespread livestock losses.
But water levels have begun to recede in many areas, providing hope that the worst has passed.
‘Too much water’
In Thargomindah, the town’s population of more than 200 people has been moved to higher ground after floodwaters breached a levee, eclipsing 1974 record levels by reaching 7.5m on Tuesday.
Helicopter pilots have been kept busy since, delivering feed and rescuing livestock when they are not pulling off other evacuations amid widespread flooding.
Locals have been warned that water levels could rise again with the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Dianne bringing more rain.
The heaviest falls are set to hit southern Queensland and northern NSW on Wednesday, with totals exceeding 100mm in some areas.
Communities cut off
“We are talking of isolation potentially for six to 10 weeks for some of those communities.” NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing told reporters.
“The significant rainfall in Queensland is slowly making its way through the catchment and moving through western NSW.”
“I couldn’t praise the community enough. Everyone has pulled together,” he said.
Latest forecast
The rainfall is expected to ease over flood-affected inland areas by Wednesday evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast released on Wednesday morning.
It is predicting a high chance of showers for Thargomindah and the surrounding Channel County area, with the possibility of thunderstorms.
Dry air is expected to move through the region in the coming days, which could help clear off the rain.
Several flood warnings remain in place today throughout the region.
