Flooding across northern Queensland has left a trail of destruction, with homes and businesses submerged and thousands of residents forced to evacuate. Despite the devastation, authorities say conditions are improving faster than expected, allowing some evacuees to begin returning home.

Premier David Crisafulli described the impact as "incredible" and warned that the disaster would test the resilience of affected communities. "There are people who have lost their homes, businesses, and farms," he said. "The road to recovery will take time."

Severe Flooding and Unexpected Relief

Since Saturday, parts of northern Queensland have been drenched with nearly two meters (6.5 feet) of rain, triggering widespread flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. However, weather conditions have eased in recent hours, offering some relief.

In Townsville, initial flood forecasts suggested up to 2,000 homes could be at risk. But by Tuesday, authorities confirmed the city had “dodged a bullet,” as floodwaters did not reach predicted levels. Residents like Jo Berry, who had evacuated, expressed relief but also lingering fear. "People talk about PTSD when it rains here, and I totally understand," she said, recalling previous cyclone events and the devastating 2019 floods.

Ingham Faces the Worst Impact

While Townsville fared better than expected, communities further north—such as Ingham and Cardwell—have been hit hard. Many areas remain cut off, with power outages and damaged roads hampering relief efforts.

Ingham, home to fewer than 5,000 residents, is almost entirely without electricity, and supply shortages have led to long queues at supermarkets. The local hospital is still operational, and a petrol station remains open, but recovery efforts are slow.

Tragically, the floods have claimed at least one life—a 63-year-old woman who died when a rescue boat capsized in Ingham.

Local MP Nick Dametto described the extent of the flooding as something he had "never seen before."

Recovery Efforts Underway

More than 8,000 properties remain without power, and the partial collapse of a major highway has slowed aid deliveries. Authorities are prioritizing efforts to restore power, with the army assisting in deploying generators to isolated communities.

The Bruce Highway, a key route stretching 1,673 km (1,039 miles) across the state, has suffered extensive damage. Federal funding has been allocated to help with reconstruction.

Calls for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

With northern Queensland prone to extreme weather events, climate experts say disasters like this are becoming more frequent and severe.

Professor Scott Heron, a climate expert at James Cook University, stressed the importance of factoring climate change into recovery and rebuilding plans. "If we don’t incorporate changing threats into infrastructure planning, we’re wasting public money," he warned.

As Queensland begins its recovery, authorities and residents alike are bracing for the long and difficult rebuilding process ahead.