Sun Feb 02 06:43:05 UTC 2025: ## One Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Floods Lash North Queensland
**Sydney, Australia – February 2, 2025** – Torrential rains have caused major flooding in North Queensland, Australia, resulting in one fatality and prompting the evacuation of thousands. The flooding, centered in the Hinchinbrook Shire (population 11,000), a region approximately 500 km north of Brisbane, has also impacted suburbs in Townsville.
Authorities issued urgent warnings for residents in low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground, citing a significant threat to life and property. The flooding is attributed to a low-pressure system bringing heavy rainfall, with 24-hour totals potentially reaching 300 mm (11.8 inches). The severe weather, including damaging winds, is expected to persist into early next week.
The region’s mining industry, which includes significant zinc, silver, lead, copper, and iron ore deposits, is also affected. Townsville serves as a major processing center for base metals, and the flooding echoes the disruption caused by severe floods in 2019, which hampered rail shipments and damaged property. This latest event follows a pattern of frequent flooding across eastern Australia in recent years, including the devastating 2023 floods in the Northern Territory.
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