Brisbane Threatened as Water Rises.
The country's third largest city is preparing for the worst. Officials warned downtown Brisbane could be inundated by Thursday.
Brisbane's mayor, Campbell Newman, said local officials expected about 6,500 properties to be flooded in the days to come.
Elsewhere in Queensland, the situation was worse. Flash floods roared through the city of Toowoomba, bringing the death toll from the ongoing floods to 18, with scores more missing.
Residents of Brisbane, Australia are bracing for what’s expected to be the worst flood to hit the region in over 100 years. Flash flooding caused by weeks of rain has pushed the nearby Wivenhoe Dam to its capacity, and the local government has urged residents not to panic. The local government estimates that as many as 40,000 homes may be affected by the flood, 9,000 “significantly,” and power is being cut for 100,000 city residents due to safety concerns. New Scientist calls the phenomenon occurring in Northern Australia an “inland tsunami.
And it’s not an exaggeration: The video above, taken by a resident of Toowoomba 80 miles to the west of Brisbane, shows floodwater picking up cars in a parking lot like toys. According to the New York Daily News, river water near Toowoomba hit heights as high as 26 feet. At least ten people in the area are dead and dozens are missing.