Queensland faces flood threat as ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji weakens over north coast

Queenslanders are bracing for floods after ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji battered the north coast and was downgraded to a tropical low as it crossed the coast on Sunday. Cyclone warnings were cancelled, but heavy rain continued to fall across the region. Thousands remained without power as authorities worked to restore electricity.

Hamilton Island recorded winds of 113km/h when the system made landfall early on Monday, but concerns about wild winds have abated. The premier, David Crisafulli, said he was confident residents could cope and warned of further heavy rain: "There is the risk in that next 24 to 48 hours of some really significant rainfall in patches," he told Nine’s Today on Monday from Bowen.

"If people do the right thing and have those preparations we’ll continue to get through this unscathed." Warnings were issued for heavy rain along the central Queensland coast, with some areas forecast to see isolated totals of up to 340mm in 24 hours across saturated catchments, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Flood watches remained in place for the channel country after the monsoon devastated the state’s north‑west, isolating towns and properties. The clean-up had barely begun, with conservative estimates of more than 45,000 livestock missing or dead. Fodder drops continued and authorities were stockpiling antibiotics and veterinary supplies to treat surviving stock and combat infection.

Key Topics

World, Cyclone Koji, Queensland, David Crisafulli, Hamilton Island, Livestock