CITY FLOODED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 9

CITY FLOODED

BRISBANE SURROUNDED THOUSANDS WITHOUT HOMES NIGHT BRINGS CONFUSION N.S.W. TOWN INUNDATED MOTHER SEES BABY DROWN By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.15 p.m. Brisbane, Feb. G. > The city is in the grip of the worst flood experienced in over twenty years. The peak point of tho river level is expected about midday. Thousands of people are homeless and railway and tram services are disorganised. Many refugees wore housed last night in public buildings. At the Mur rumba watershed this morning the Brisbane River flood level reached 03 feet, or over 5 feet above the 1908 level. The record is SO feet in March, 1893. Twelve inches of rain has been registered at the exhibition grounds in 24 hours. Confusion reigned in the city during the night and many narrow escapes are recordeel. Streams. of refugees are hurrying to the higher portions of the city'’from the low-lying suburbs, which are inundated. They carry whatever effects they have been able to salvage in their hurried flight. Torrential rain has fallen on the north coast of New South Wales and the southern portion of Queensland for several days. Low-lying country is submerged, while rail and tram traffic in Brisbane is disorganised and hundreds of employees unable to reach their homes are sleeping in the city. Hundreds are fleeing before the menace of flood waters- which at Murwillumbah inundated portions of the town. The Tweed River is already above its record flood level of 1921.

Cyclonic gales are raging and seas are causing havoc along the far north coast.

Telephone girl® at Murwillumbah continued on duty until the water rose two feet around their switchboards. The river rose at an alarming rate. Alany were rescued in boat®. The main-street ie navigable only by boats. The Richmond River at Lismore is rising two feet hourly. Low-lying homes have been vacated. Roads are impassable and th© railyService has been discontinued owing to tho submerged tracks. There are many landslides. Brisbane says the biggest flood since 1908 is expected in the Southport district. Fann lands are covered to a depth of 10 feet. A house and bridge were carried away by the swirling water®. A baby girl was washed from her mother’s arms when the woman was crossing a deep gully and was drowned. A train wa® overturned near Dakabin and tho fireman’s arm was broken.