Australian Defence Force (ADF) members were deployed to help with flood evacuation in the state of Western Australia, as heavy rains caused by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie continued to wreak havoc.
According to reports by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) on Thursday, road access to the town of Derby was cut and more than 50 Australian Defence Force personnel winged their way to the state’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region. Meanwhile, an ADF C-130 Hercules is understood to be attempting to fly from Perth to Broome but may have to land at Port Hedland due to the severe weather in Kimberley.
Heavy rains dumped by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie have already led to some minor to major floodings in Kimberley in the past few days.
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said Fitzroy Crossing, one of the most affected areas in Kimberley with 1,500 people and 50 small remote indigenous communities, could be isolated for weeks.
“We’re concerned about the risk of isolation, potentially for weeks, for those communities,” Watt told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“There will be people who don’t necessarily need to be relocated, but will have some issues obtaining food, vegetables, all sorts of other things and it will be important to make sure that we (ADF personnel) can resupply those kinds of communities,” said Watt.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday that seven-day rainfall totals of 200-800 mm have been recorded across Kimberley to Wednesday evening.
The Fitzroy River also peaked at Fitzroy Crossing late Wednesday, reaching a record 15.8 meters.
The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rainfall which may lead to flashing floods is still likely west of Fitzroy Crossing on Thursday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 mm and 150 mm with 24-hour totals up to 200 mm likely.
Severe weather is expected to ease in southwest Kimberley and shift into southern Kimberley and North Interior district on Friday as ex-tropical cyclone Ellie moves inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
