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Two people missing as floods and heavy rain continue to ravage Townsville

The flood situation in Townsville is going to get worse before it gets better, with more rain expected to hit the city. Source: Getty

UPDATE: Two bodies have been retrieved from a Townsville stormwater drain. According to the Townsville Bulletin, the bodies have not yet been identified, but are thought to be the bodies of 21-year-old Hughie Morton and 23-year-old Troy Matheison. According to the report, the bodies were discovered by police when flood waters cleared earlier on Tuesday morning. The bodies were discovered near the Aitkenvale Library — close to where the two men were last seen alive.

Police are appealing for urgent help finding two people who have gone missing in the horrific Townsville and far North Queensland floods, as heavy rainfall over the coming days continues to bring widespread devastation.

Queensland Police have confirmed two men are missing from the Townsville suburb of Aitkenvale. Townsville Police issued a statement on Monday evening appealing for public assistance to locate the two men who were last seen in Ross River Road on Monday morning.

A search of the extensive flood water was immediately carried out, but so far 21-year-old Hughie Morton and Troy Matheison, 23, have not been found.

Morton is approximately 165cm tall with a slim build and short black hair. Meanwhile, Matheison is also around 165cm tall with a proportionate build and short black hair. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the men are encouraged to contact police.

The Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council shared a post on Facebook about the men, claiming they were spotted swimming in flood waters.

“Last spotted at Dan Murphys Aitkenvale (Ross River Rose) at 8-9pm. They were also seen swimming in the floods near Stocklands,” the post read.

Townsville copped an additional 300ml of rain overnight, bringing the nine-day total to 113mml. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall on Tuesday morning to residents of the Central Coast and Whitsundays, as well as parts of Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, North West, Central Highlands and Coalfields and Central West Forecast Districts.

The risk of heavy rainfall and damaging winds continues to remain in place between Paluma and Sarina, as well as the north-western interior. At present, the monsoon trough extends from a deep tropical low, located around 170 kilometres north of Cloncurry, through Gregory Springs to Townsville.

It is also predicted rainfall of up to 300mm is likely on Tuesday and Wednesday in some areas, further impacting areas including Mackay, Townsville, Bowen, Ayr, Palm Island, Rollingstone, Proserpine, the Whitsunday Islands and Sarina. Julia Creek, Richmond and Winton could face up to 120mm of rain, which could cause localised flash flooding.

Read more: Massive crocs spotted in Townsville streets as terrifying floods continue

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services recommend people in affected areas move their cars under cover and away from trees, secure all loose outdoor items, seek shelter indoors, beware of fallen trees and powerlines, not enter flood waters and keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has arrived in the flood-ravaged region, talking to locals and riding around with the Australian Army. He was filmed in the disaster zone earlier on Tuesday wearing a camouflage outfit.

Meanwhile, Queensland Police shared a heartwarming video of a man welcoming his neighbour into his home after his house became flooded. In the clip, police can be seen helping the man to his neighbour’s house and helping him through waist-deep floodwaters.

“Remember to keep an eye out for your neighbours affected by flood where it is safe to do so and call emergency services if you need help,” Queensland Police said.

Despite the warnings in place, it appears many people are continuing to drive, walk or swim through flood waters.

“We know from research conducted this month that many people still think it is ok to drive or play in floodwater,” Mel Taylor from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC said in a statement to Scimex. “Over half those surveyed had driven through floodwater previously (56%), and of those who had driven through floodwater, 58% had driven into floodwater more than once in the last five years. Nearly a third of those surveyed (30%) had played in floodwaters.”

Her calls were echoed by Andrew Gissing, General Manager of Resilience at Risk Frontiers — who said warnings were in place for good reason.

“Emergency services are right to discourage people from entering floodwater. The safety of floodwater can often be very difficult to judge, in particular the speed and depth of the water and what might be underneath,” he said. “Making only a slight error of judgement can be the difference between life and death.”

Do you know someone who has been impacted by the wild weather in Townsville?

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