Townsville Bishop Tim Harris says he will visit North Queensland’s Ingham region as soon as possible after the area experienced the worst flooding since 1967. Source: The Catholic Leader.
A second woman was found dead in Ingham on the fourth day of the North Queensland flood emergency. Police said the body of an 82-year-old woman was found in cane fields at Bemerside, about 100 kilometres north of Townsville, on Tuesday.
Another woman died when an emergency services boat flipped in floodwaters on Sunday.
Forecasts predict more rain on the way for North Queensland.
Bishop Harris, who has been in constant contact with Ingham’s parish priest, said the bridge was still down, food supplies were “very low” and power had not yet been restored.
“Many are traumatised,” Bishop Harris said.
“When I can get there I will visit and spend some days visiting and talking with people. I will offer a Mass for the community at that time. I would like to get there as soon as possible but this may take some.”
He said the trauma of the event would be felt for some time.
“The Church will certainly do what it can to be there for people,” he said.
He said they were the worst floods in Ingham since 1967.
“We continue to pray for the people of Ingham region and all those within the diocese who have been affected in any way,” he said.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Gilroy Santa Maria College in Ingham as well as St Peter’s Catholic School, Halifax, remain closed.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned more than 200 millimetres could still fall on Townsville, Ingham and surrounds over coming days.
In Townsville, some residents are returning home after evacuating over the weekend.
The federal and Queensland governments have extended disaster assistance to more north Queenslanders affected by the rains and flooding that continues to bear down on the region.
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Townsville bishop describes dire situation in Ingham with more rain on the way (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
