The Foreign Office has requested UK travellers watch its website updates following torrential rain and flooding in Queensland which has seen officials declare a state of emergency.
Some 20 towns have been evacuated in north east Australia, including Bundaberg, the southern approach to the Great Barrier Reef, after Cyclone Tasha brought chaos to the region in the last few days.
All 300 people who live in the town of Theodore were airlifted out to safety and Brisbane has experienced its wettest December in a century and a half.
And there’s not going to be a let up any time soon. More torrential rain is forecast for the days to come.
Other towns to be evacuated include Chinchilla, Dalby, Woorabinda and Burnett with the 50,000 resident coastal Rockhampton set to be hit next along with Emerald, home to 15,000 people.
A statement from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said: “Queenslanders and visitors to the state are being warned to prepare for heavy rain and flooding during the holiday period.”
by Dinah Hatch
