The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a significant event for north Queensland areas hit by torrential rain and flooding, with Townsville and Ingham hardest hit.

“The volume and intensity of this weather has already caused damage across parts of northern Queensland, with the risk of flash flooding expected to continue in the coming days,” CEO Andrew Hall said today. 

“Insurers understand the impact of these extreme weather events and will move quickly to ensure communities receive the assistance they need as soon as possible. We are working with the Queensland authorities and will keep the community updated as situations evolve.” 

Townsville suburbs have been evacuated, the Ollera Creek Bridge on the Bruce Highway south of Ingham washed away and major flood warnings remain in place for the Ross and Herbert rivers. More than 100 schools are closed. 

“The heavy rainfall we have seen over northern Queensland over the past week has been extreme,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Matthew Collopy said today. 

“Widespread rainfall totals of 600mm have been recorded between Innisfail and Townsville, with the highest values reaching 1200mm.” 

Rollingstone, northwest of Townsville, received 1286mm of rain over the past week, and over the past 24 hours there were falls of 200-400mm in the Townsville and Cardwell areas and isolated totals of more than 600mm. 

The low-pressure system driving the weather is starting to weaken but heavy and “locally intense” rainfall remains likely over the next few days. 

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said: “We remain prepared for the ongoing prospect of more rain and the likelihood of more flooding, both flash flooding and riverine flooding.” 

ICA says the event may be escalated to an insurance catastrophe if there is a significant rise in claim numbers or complexity, if the geographical spread is extended, or in consultation with insurers. 

Impacts have been most significant in communities in and around Townsville, Innisfail, Ingham, Gordonvale and Cardwell, but ICA says all regions affected in north Queensland and Far North Queensland since last Wednesday fall under the significant event declaration. 

RACQ says it received 76 claims by 9.30am today, with numbers expected to increase in coming days as members return to their homes.   

Insurers including Suncorp, IAG and RACQ say they have response teams ready to move into the affected region to help policyholders as soon as possible. 

Severe weather also hit Victoria last night as thunderstorms moved across the state amid heatwave conditions, with the Geelong area particularly affected. 

“We saw flash flooding, hail and wind damage, and widespread power outages with over 90 trees coming down across Geelong,” the city council said today.  “Some of our facilities have been impacted, and our teams are working this morning to assess the damage and prioritise repair works.” 

The Victorian State Emergency Service says it received 770 requests for help in the 24 hours to 7am today, mostly for fallen trees, building damage and flash blooding. 

Many were from the Geelong region, with the SES South Barwon unit receiving 182 calls, the Geelong unit 84, the Corio unit 78 and the Bellarine unit 48.