World Today

Two weeks ago northeastern Australia was hit by Cyclone Tasha, affecting an area the size of France and Germany combined in a huge flood that has named this spring their wettest ever. Parts of Australia have received huge amounts of rain since November, causing the Fitzroy River of Rockhampton to go 30 feet over its flood average water level and shutting down 40 coal mines, destroying numbers of homes, wiping out fields of crops, and affecting more then 200,000 people. While the river continues to rise, senior forecaster in Brisbane, Gordon Banks, tells us that the water is getting close to record levels. The local Mayor of Rockhampton, a town of 75,000 that’s been hit hardest by the flooding, says, “You can look down a street for a kilometer and see nothing but water.”

At least 10 people have been killed since the terrible weather began in November, around three of the deaths having occurred since Saturday, including a 41 year old woman who drowned while attempting to cross a causeway, and a 38 year old man who was killed after being swept off a small boat along the Boyne River.

To add to the chaos, snakes (some highly venomous such as taipans, brown snakes, and red-bellied blacks) have become a huge problem as they climb trees and hide in houses as a way to escape the floodwater. Crocodiles have also been spotted around the area of Rockhampton.

By Saturday the city had been partially evacuated, and Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard supplied people affected by the floods emergency relief on Monday, assistance including loans for farmer with flooded land. Many residents of Rockhampton and areas close by who may not be able to return to their homes for up to a month are taking refuge in evacuation centers.

Rescue teams have been going into Rock Hampton to help with food supplies and other supplies. Estimates of the damage and lost production go as high as $9 billion. Food, drinking water, and medical supplies have been airlifted into Rockhampton by the military, and the town has been offered aid from both the U.S and New Zealand. Hopefully, water levels will decrease before much more damage is done.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BU09620110102

http://beta.quedit.com/magazin?list_id=680

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Australia+floods+cause+catastrophic+damage/4062053/story.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12111264

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110104/wl_asia_afp/australiaweatherfloods