Floodwaters swallow Queensland train track in unbelievable time lapse footage
Amazing CCTV has emerged of the devastating impact of heavy rain and flooding in North Queensland have had on infrastructure with vision showing train tracks inundated by the deluge.
Townsville has copped 120mm of rain in the past 24 hours but the trough is weakening.
Bureau of Meteorology forecasters are warning the monsoon, which flooded parts of North Queensland, could become a cyclone.
Queensland Rail on Friday shared CCTV following aerial inspections of the impact the floods have had on the Mount Isa Line further west.
It included parts of the line at Corella Creek in North Queensland’s west.
Water is seen rising on January 31 before the tracks are entirely covered on February 5.
Queensland Rail added a train consisting of one locomotive and 80 wagons carrying zinc, lead and copper anode was damaged at nearby Nelia on the same line.
CCTV shows wagons flipped on their sides.
Crews have been physically unable to reach the train, according to CEO Nick Easy.
“While Queensland Rail understands all other locomotives are safe and accounted for, further aerial inspections will be undertaken as soon as is safe to do so to confirm this,” Mr Easy said in a statement.
“This is an unprecedented flooding event and Nelia is a high point in the area which has previously provided safe flood-free stowing for trains in flood events.”
Rain continues on Friday
A few showers are expected on Friday as the system peters out and moves offshore.
BOM meteorologist David Crock said computer models suggest the trough could interact with a broad low-pressure system way out in the Coral Sea near New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Any more rain in already sodden catchments in the state’s north and west would be deeply unwelcome, as communities recover from record flooding.
“That would be obviously the worst-case scenario and there is no indication yet. Fingers crossed that does not happen,” Mr Crock said.
“Once it is out over the sea, it is a very different system. The ocean is warm and it is the right time of year for cyclones to form, so there is a lot in its favour to form into a cyclone.”
Crocs and other reptiles have washed up in the wild weather too.
A woman in Ingham, 100km from Townsville, told Yahoo7 a crocodile came into her backyard scaring her children.
With AAP
