Flash floods in Australia's Sunshine Coast
- 12 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Heavy rain triggered flash floods across townships on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Brisbane on Thursday (March 22).
The local weather service described it as a once-in-a-century deluge.
Torrents of water in Maroochydore up to a metre (3.3 feet) high swept through streets, tossing cars and inundating stores.
Emergency services received more than 600 calls for help, and reported 200 homes were flooded.
Flood waters engulfed shops and restaurants in the tourist area normally known for its sunny beaches.
"It's completely flooded. Up to the tables, pretty much," said one woman as she helped to clear water from a restaurant using buckets.
Many cars were stranded, stalling in flooded streets.
"Cars didn't know where to go. There are still some cars stuck down the back, there," said a local resident.
"We've never seen anything like this before," said another resident.
Schools in the area were closed and children in a daycare centre were evacuated.
A local supermarket said that much of its stock and computer systems were destroyed as the metre-high water flooded the building.
The death of an elderly man in a road accident was attributed to the floods, through authorities described it as "a miracle" that many more were not hurt.
The government of the state of Queensland has offered cash grants to people left without accommodation, food or clothing.
Heavy rain triggered flash floods across townships on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Brisbane on Thursday (March 22).
The local weather service described it as a once-in-a-century deluge.
Torrents of water in Maroochydore up to a metre (3.3 feet) high swept through streets, tossing cars and inundating stores.
Emergency services received more than 600 calls for help, and reported 200 homes were flooded.
Flood waters engulfed shops and restaurants in the tourist area normally known for its sunny beaches.
"It's completely flooded. Up to the tables, pretty much," said one woman as she helped to clear water from a restaurant using buckets.
Many cars were stranded, stalling in flooded streets.
"Cars didn't know where to go. There are still some cars stuck down the back, there," said a local resident.
"We've never seen anything like this before," said another resident.
Schools in the area were closed and children in a daycare centre were evacuated.
A local supermarket said that much of its stock and computer systems were destroyed as the metre-high water flooded the building.
The death of an elderly man in a road accident was attributed to the floods, through authorities described it as "a miracle" that many more were not hurt.
The government of the state of Queensland has offered cash grants to people left without accommodation, food or clothing.