By Abdullahi Lukman
Tropical Cyclone Koji has battered parts of North Queensland, Australia, with heavy rain and strong winds, triggering flooding, power disruptions and multiple emergency rescues as the system crossed the coast between Ayr and Bowen.
Wind gusts of up to 100km/h brought down trees and fences from Bowen to Mackay, while intense rainfall caused roads to close and water levels to rise in several communities.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the heaviest rain fell south of the system’s centre, raising concerns for areas including Ayr, Bowen, the Whitsundays and Mackay.
In Marian, west of Mackay, residents reported flooded backyards and damaged fences as rain fell sideways.
Nearby Gargett recorded 146mm of rain in just two hours, while overnight totals of up to 200mm were reported west of Mackay, with more rain forecast over the next two days.
Emergency services carried out several rescues on Sunday. West of Bowen, a mother and her two children were pulled from floodwaters after their car became trapped.
In separate incidents, two men were rescued after their vessel sank off Cannonvale, and two men and five children were saved from a flooded home at Finch Hatton.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said public safety remained the top priority, urging residents in low-lying areas to avoid flooded roads.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also warned of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding along large sections of the Queensland coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Koji was a lopsided system, with widespread heavy rainfall and locally damaging winds contributing to the flood risk.
By Sunday afternoon, the cyclone had weakened to an ex-tropical cyclone, though significant rainfall was still expected.
Weather warnings remained in place along much of the north-east Queensland coast from Townsville to Mackay, including Bowen, Proserpine and the Whitsundays.
Authorities cautioned that already saturated catchments could worsen flooding as the system moves inland and westward.
