Flooding warning for Townsville suburbs

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

A map of potential inundated properties will released shortly.

If you require evacuation assistance, contact SES on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies call 000.

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