WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

A major flood warning has been issued for the Ross River, with a risk to life and property and residents urged to seek higher ground immediately.

The Ross River Dam spillway gates were fully open just after 8pm

Residents in low-lying properties are being inundated as flash flooding occurs

MONDAY FEBRUARY 4

UPDATE, 1.15am:

Emergency services have received hundreds of call for assistance as flood waters continue to rise through the night.

Australian Defence Force members have launched boats into the streets of Idalia, in Townsville’s south, searching for any lights on or residents in need of rescue.

Emergency services are no longer able to use road vehicles to get into Idalia for rescues.

It is understood there are currently about 20 active calls for assistance in the suburb.

Meanwhile heavy rain has continued to lash the city with widespread falls between 150mm and 250mm recorded in the CBD and most surrounding areas since 9am Sunday.

About 192mm of rain has fallen over the Ross River Dam in this time.

17,000 properties across Townsville are currently without power.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3

UPDATE, 11.15pm:

A fifth evacuation centre has now been opened, with the Ignatius Park College now full.

The North Shore Public Cyclone Shelter has been activated, at 10 Iris Lane Burdell.

FULL LIST OF EVACUATION CENTRES HERE

UPDATE, 10.20pm:

Residents in flood-affected suburbs are being warned that the Bureau of Meteorology has increased its rainfall prediction over the Ross River Dam catchment overnight and into tomorrow morning.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Sam Campbell said over Townsville at the moment we’re seeing falls around 30-40mm in three hours.

Townsville floods 2019 Townsville floods 2019

“We’re expecting rainfall to continue that way overnight and we could see widespread falls of 100-200mm around the Townsville region, and localised totals possible of 250mm over the next 12 hours,” Mr Campbell said.

“We still have a severe weather warning current that could produce thunderstorms and possibility of destructive wind gusts in coastal locations overnight.”

Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Townsville City, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Rowes Bay, Garbutt, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Currajong, Mysterton, Pimlico, Mundingburra, Douglas, Annandale, Kirwan, Thuringowa Central and South Townsville areas could all experience major flooding.

If it is safe to do so, residents in those areas should move to higher ground.

⚠️ Dangerous & high velocity flows will occur in the #RossRiver tonight & into Monday. Unprecedented areas of flooding will occur in Townsville. Expect access routes to be cut. Conditions will change rapidly & continuously. Listen to emergency services. #IfItsFloodedForgetIt pic.twitter.com/mOEkfhgtl1 — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 3, 2019

UPDATE, 9.30pm:

As floodwaters continue to rise across low-lying areas of Townsville, reports of residents being evacuated are coming in as well as unconfirmed reports of Annandale residents being rescued from roofs.

Raymond McConville’s house in Railway Estate was completely flooded so he’s now trying to help others in the community.

“I’m trying to get to Oonoonba now,” he said.

media_camera Townsville floods, February 3, 2019: Photos Raymond McConville

“A lady called me she has a young daughter with her and they need help.”

Mr McConville said so far they couldn’t get to Idalia and Oonoonba from the highway.

“A lady in Idalia with her daughter called me crying and saying her and her daughter are standing on the kitchen table and SES hasn’t come yet,” he said.

“I’m literally holding the tears back.”

More than 15,000 homes are currently without power across Townsville as flood waters continue to rise.

Ergon Energy has had to cut power to a number of areas heavily impacted by the rising flood waters for safety.

The car park at CastleTown shopping Centre is flooding in Townsville as water levels rise. @abcnews pic.twitter.com/dQkrhgRvyV — Josh Bavas (@JoshBavas) February 3, 2019

UPDATE, 8.10pm:

The Ross River Dam spillway gates are now fully open.

Residents in the following suburbs should prepare for imminent flooding from a rapidly rising Ross River.

This includes Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Townsville City, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Rowes Bay, Garbutt, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Currajong, Mysterton, Pimlico, Mundingburra, Douglas, Annandale, Kirwan and Thuringowa Central and South Townsville areas.

If safe to do so, please move to higher ground immediately.

I understand Iggy Park evacuation centre is almost full. If you're trying to get to safety go for Heatley Secondary College evac point (very nearby) as there is more space there #townsvillefloods — Clare Armstrong (@ByClare) February 3, 2019

UPDATE, 7.26pm:

Heavy rainfall into the Ross River Dam catchment is expected to push the water level to a height which will automatically open the spillway gates to full between 8pm and 8.30pm.

Residents in the following suburbs should get to higher ground immediately:

This includes Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Townsville City, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Rowes Bay, Garbutt, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Currajong, Mysterton, Pimlico, Mundingburra, Douglas, Annandale, Kirwan and Thuringowa Central and South Townsville areas.

If you require evacuation assistance, contact SES on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies call triple-0.

The Australian Defence Service and other services are being instructed to withdraw from low-lying areas.

Residents have been urged to stay away from flooded areas and listen to emergency warning alerts.

⚠️URGENT⚠️ MAJOR FLOOD WARNING ROSS RIVER!! 🚨RISK TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Dangerous & high velocity flows will occur in the Ross River Sun night into Mon. Unprecedented areas of flooding will occur in Townsville. Issued at 6:10 pm EST 3/2/19 READ: https://t.co/HmjaVL45tU pic.twitter.com/qCYdwB8Yfp — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 3, 2019

A warning message from authorities warn “an unprecedented amount of water” is about to inundate the city as a band of heavy rain combines with spill from Ross River Dam.

Residents in many suburbs across Townsville are warned that they may experience flooding from rapid rises of the Ross River.

This includes Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Townsville City, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Rowes Bay, Garbutt, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Currajong, Mysterton, Pimlico, Mundingburra, Douglas, Annandale, Kirwan and Thuringowa Central and South Townsville areas.

The dam spillway gates may open to their full setting between the hours of 8.30pm tonight and 6am tomorrow.

This setting would release up to 2000 cubic metres of water per second out of the dam.

Everyone should ensure they move away from riverbanks and get to higher ground before 8.30pm tonight.

‼️Please see map of potential inundated properties.‼️



Please share far and wide with your networks.



For more information listen to local radio, phone 1800 738 541 or visit Council’s Emergency Management Dashboard https://t.co/kZHucVFj12 pic.twitter.com/7ngsq5ZgWz — Townsville Council (@TCC_News) February 3, 2019

DOWNLOAD A ZOOMABLE MAP HERE

Residents still in their homes in these suburbs should move to the highest ground in their dwelling before 8.30pm tonight.

DAM CLOSED: Townsville City Council has closed all public access to Ross River Dam for the safety of the community.

TLDMG is urging everyone to avoid the area.

BOIL WATER ALERT: Residents in Cungulla have been advised to boil water until further notice.

Townsville City Council and the Australian Defence Force are working to provide bottled water to the residents of Cungulla.

The pump station was without power for several hours.

#BREAKING Emergency Services are being pulled out of flooded areas because they don't know what's happening with this current flash flood. Please stay safe everyone. Listen to all warnings. This is getting very, very serious — Clare Armstrong (@ByClare) February 3, 2019

There are four evacuation centres people are advised to move to immediately if they are in the flood warning zones:

Alligator Creek Bowls Club: 10 Parkland Rd, Alligator Creek

Bluewater Community Centre: 14 Forestry Rd, Bluewater

Heatley Public Cyclone Shelter: 321 Fulham Rd, Heatley

Ignatius Park College — Edmund Rice Hall: 368 Ross River Rd, Cranbrook

SUBURBS ON FLOOD ALERTS

Aitkenvale

Annandale

Black River

Bluewater

Burdell

Cluden

Condon

Cranbrook

Currajong

Deeragun

Douglas

Garbutt

Hermit Park

Hyde Park

Idalia

Jensen

Kelso

Kirwan

Mundingburra

Mysterton

North Ward

Oonoonba

Pimlico

Railway Estate

Rasmussen

Rosslea

Rowes Bay

South Townsville

Thuringowa Central

Townsville City

West End