On the news this morning, an area the size of Germany and France has been affected. Flood levels are expected to peak tomorrow and then, hopefully start to drop.

Fortunately, we haven't been affected on our holiday. It's fallen at the right time in the right places as far as we're concerned.

More info here where it's up to the minute.

Hope this helps.

I was going to book a week in Brisbane today, but the new flash flooding in the mountains to the west of Brisbane has been forecast to hit there in the next couple of days, so that one's ruled out.
We were in Brisbane for a day last week and there were tree stumps on the footpath near the Botanic Gardens and Parliament Buildings. No flood warnings were issued then, but this lot is 3 metres higher.

Now I'm going to have to look for a week in Adelaide where it's drier and hotter.

Cars, trucks, containers and houses are being washed down the streets. A report from a pub has said it was struck by a house. Imagine the fun the insurance companies will have in sorting that one out!

News bulletins tonight report that 72 are missing following the latest flash flooding in Queensland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12149921

David

Only 2 confirmed dead, a woman and child who were washed away in a car. All other cars washed away have been searched. Still many missing.
This is tragic and everybody is affected one way or another.

Qlds Premier almost broke into tears while making announcements on TV.

The death toll has risen to 10 now with mre expected to be found as search for all the missing continues.
We travelled back to Brisbane from Newcatle today with only a slight delay on the flight. Brisbane M1 was closed at junction from airport but we diverted through Redcliffe and missed it. The M1 was closed for 7 hours today while the floods subsided. Heavy rain is expected overnight but should clear tomorrow leaving a few showers.

It's bad enough reading and watching the terrible flooding in Queensland, but when the names of towns affected are ones we drove through in 2006 it somehow makes it more personal. I can't begin to imagine what those poor people are going through. Here's praying for a swift end to the rain and may the sun shine brightly soon.
Rosalyn

Like Parky, we are seeing this in detail on the Aussie TV...it's horrendous and has been described as flooding on a "biblical scale".
We have had a burst pipe in my loft which has completely ruined half my house, the back bedroom, dining room and the kitchen are "right offs" and hearing the news from my oldest lad , it "ruined" Xmas or I should say that it was something we could have done without hearing, but the lad regrettably had to contact us and tell us, but at least it was clean cold water that has brought down the ceilings and ruined the bed, carpets, furniture and completely destroyed the kitchen....hopefully by the time we get back at the end of this month, the house will be "livable in".

These poor people have river water with sewage, insects, snakes etc and some are not insured...thankfully we are insured up to the hilt, but it's going to take some sorting out and is already in 1,000's pounds double figures claim just for us.
We decided to fly down to Melbourne yesterday until Saturday and it was chucking it down with rain all afternoon and all night long.....it's stopped for the moment, but there's some nasty dark clouds looming overhead......the weather certainly has not been what we were expecting.

Gotta go.

Sanji

We've been sat in the hotel room watching the news and seeing the views/reports from a helicopter of the vast amounts of land that have been engulfed by the river in Brisbane, and as expected every channel is showing these images every minute of the day...... they are now putting out concerns about diseases from the stagnant water.

This morning we were waiting in the hotel and hoping for the rain to stop here in Melbourne and in the end we just went out in it.......it's just come down like a monsoon, we are soggy, throughly miserable and cannot say we are enjoying it....there is no fun in going sight seeing and being drenched to the skin.
To top it all, today I've been informed that we will have to find alternative accomodation when we come home at the end of this month, my house will not be ready or fit to live in, so we will have to book into a hotel, for how long, I don't know.

I mustn't complain, at least we are alive, insured and it was clean water.
My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and everything they possess in OZ.

Sanji

Hi Sanji.

Thinking off all those who have been affected by this terrible disaster and apart from this hope your having a brilliant experiance in OZ.

Danny x

Death toll is now 18 confirmed and a further 15 missing and very doubtful if they will be found.

One person found 80km's from where she was seen to go into the water. Full recovery is now going ahead with thousands of volunteers in Brisbane helping with the clean-up.

My friend has been affected by the weather in Oz, their road is in a meander of the river Bremer at Ipswich, so they are surrounded by water. They were given 3 hours notice to evacuate and went to a school on higher ground. Everyone was very kind and helpful and a couple offered them a 'granny flat' to stay in and even lent them some clothes. They have been back to their house with an army of helpers (friends, family, parents of friends etc) to start the clean up and even though most of the inside of the house will have to be replaced they have cleaned every surface because the stench from the mud was so bad. When they had finished everyone took their cleaning things to an elderly lady who lives next door and cleaned the whole of her house too. The army and airforce have been helping out and the kindness and good spirit of everyone has been unbelievable. They are well insured so should be ok but the stories I have heard from them this past week have been horrendous but also uplifting.

There is hell on here with the insurance companies refusing to pay out because it's the wrong sort of flooding!

If it's caused by rainwater falling it's O.K. but if it's from a river or the drains it's not!

Where do they think the water comes from?

We still haven't been touched by it so far,but plenty around here in Caloundra have. It's not so often that you see Queenslanders mowing their grass wearing shorts and wellies!

Bunnings, (B&Q type store) have sold out of wellies and pool salt can't be found anywhere on the Sunshine Coast.

Queenslanders prepare for storms again

Tourists and locals are fleeing low-lying and waterfront areas in North Queensland as the area braces itself for a slamming from Cyclone Yasi.

The city of Cairns will be affected by the cyclone as well as luxury holiday resorts such as Hamilton Island.

While army troops transfer hospital patients to Brisbane and holidaymakers are flown out of danger spots, Queensland premier Anna Bligh once again found herself in the global spotlight just weeks after floods devastated parts of Queensland.

She said: "This is potentially a deadly storm and we need to take it absolutely seriously."

Yasi is expected to hit the Australian coastline on Thursday. It is classified as a category four storm.

Central and southern Queenslanders who suffered so much in the post-Christmas floods will escape the storm, however, after it changed course.

With permission from Travelmole

Tourists flee Barrier Reef resorts as 'killer' storm approaches

Thousand of tourists have fled resorts along the north Queensland coast to avoid being caught up in the destruction of Cyclone Yasi.

The cyclone, described by authorities as a ‘monster, killer storm' is due to hit the northeastern Australian state over the next 24 hours.

Barrier Reef resorts, such as Hamilton Island (pictured here) have closed and have advised clients to leave.

Qantas and Virgin Blue have sent extra planes to help visitors leave the area.

According to the Australian newspaper, Virgin Blue planned to offer 900 more seats before Cairns airport shuts down to all but emergency aircraft.

Qantas subsidiary Jetstar put on five extra flights from Cairns and two from Hamilton Island.

More than 400,000 people live in the area where the cyclone is due to hit.

Anyone who has not already evacuated has been told it is now too late to escape.

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned the state to brace for widespread destruction and warned residents who have been unable to evacuate that they now face "many, many dreadful frightening hours".

She said the cyclone is a "powerful natural force but the courage of the people of far north Queensland is an even stronger force again".

The same strength as Hurricane Katrina, Yasi is expected to be the most deadly cyclone to ever hit Australia.

It is due to make landfall at 2pm GMT, near the town of Innisfail, an hour's drive south of Cairns.

A storm surge of up to 20ft above the high tide level is expected to cause widespread flooding.

With permission from Travelmole

This gives you an idea of the size of it.

This picture gives you an idea of mileages involved. All these places will be hit by the cyclone.
755 km's is about the distance from dover to dundee (about).

Not always the "Lucky Country" !!
Alan

It is heartbreaking to see the devastation that is going on in Australia at the moment. It looks like Cairns and Townsville are going to be at the centre of it. We only had a few days at Cairns and Port Douglas, but wished we had longer as it was a lovely area with loads to do.

luci

Queensland starts big clean-up

The big clean-up has begun in north Queensland in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, but heavy flooding now threatens many low lying areas in the region.

Cairns escaped the eye of the cyclone and most hotels in the town were preparing for trade today.

The Queensland government said the cyclone was the worst in Australia's history but early reports indicated that thankfully there was no loss of life or serious injuries resulting from the huge winds that brought down power lines and destroyed homes.

The communities of Mission Beach, where the Category Five monster made landfall, nearby Tully, and Innisfail were the worst hit. Structural damage in the towns was extensive.

Accor - the largest hotel group in the region with 12 hotels - reported that all its hotels withstood the strong winds and rain and should be trading normally.

The Holiday Inn Cairns sustained minor damage but guest services were not interrupted. Guest services at the Holiday Inn Townsville will be restricted until water, gas and power access are restored.

IHG advises anyone planning to visit this region of Queensland in the next few days to follow the advice of emergency services agencies. Visit http://www.qld.gov.au/cyclone/ for more information.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa was spared the worst from Yasi, with only minor vegetation damage reported around the Whitsunday island.

All guests were evacuated from Daydream on Tuesday morning as part of the island's cyclone contingency plans. Around 20 staff remained on Daydream in a cyclone-proof facility.

All ferry services and flight connection services with Cruise Whitsundays are anticipated to be operating as from tomorrow (Friday).

Qantas suspended flights to and from Cairns and Townsville airports yesterday and today but the airline hopes to resume services tomorrow.

With permission from Travelmole

Australia tourism issues update on Cyclone damage

Tourism Australia has issued an update on the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi to help agents deal with client enquiries.

The cyclone crossed the Queensland coast yesterday but caused less damage than was forecast.

According to Tourism Australia:

- Cairns and the Whitsundays have avoided the worst of the cyclone with very limited damage

- Townsville, Tully, Mission Beach, Ingham and Innisfail have been damaged to varying degrees

- Most airports between Mackay and Cairns have opened, or will open tomorrow morning. However, please check with carriers for the most up to date information on flight schedules and airport operations

- Destinations that have not been affected by the cyclone include the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water, 1770, Queensland's Outback, Southern Downs and Granite Belt - all are ready to welcome visitors

- Brisbane, the Darling Downs and Capricorn region are now recovering from the floods, earlier this month, with most tourism operations open and running normally.

With permission from Travelmole