Thousands of residents along Australia’s northeast coast have fled their homes following a massive flooding on Sunday that’s been described as “a disaster of biblical proportions” by Queensland State Treasurer Andrew Fraser, who estimates the flooding will cost the country more than $1 billion. One of the 12-plus flooded towns is the town of Rockhampton, whose population of 77,000 was cut off, and about 40 percent of its homes are expected to be flooded in the coming days in waters more than 30 feet deep. The flooding has taken over an area larger than France and Germany, and affected the lives of about 200,000 people. One person, a 41-year-old woman, has been confirmed dead, and although the rains have stopped, the waters are still gradually making their way down the rivers to the coast. Evacuation centers have been set up, with military aircraft available to assist in rescue efforts.
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