Kimberley residents are worried they could run out of food and fuel as a once-in-a-century flood isolates remote towns in Western Australia’s far north, with authorities saying the Fitzroy River is experiencing “one of the highest flow rates ever seen” in Australia.

Fitzroy Crossing, Broome and other towns were expected to be cut off as the waters rose.

On Wednesday, the Fitzroy River reached 15.75 metres, about 1.8 metres above the previous record.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s WA manager, James Ashley, said the “extreme” and “unprecedented” conditions from ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie would see more rain and gale force winds hit the area.

More than 200mm of rain had fallen in 24 hours, he said.

The river flow rate was usually about 8,000 cubic metres a second. Now, it’s about 60,000 cubic metres a second.

“It’s probably one of the highest flow rates we’ve ever seen in Australian rivers,” Ashley said.

“It is certainly a lot of water going down that river. The amount of water moving down the Fitzroy River in a day is about what Perth uses, water wise, in 20 years.”

Homes and businesses in Fitzroy Crossing were flooded, with some residents airlifted by helicopter to Broome, 350km away. Three Australian defence force planes have been called in to help evacuate residents and bring in supplies, the first of which was to arrive on Wednesday. The Great Northern Highway was cut in both directions.

‘Fitzroy Crossing is now completely isolated’

The WA emergency services minister, Stephen Dawson, said the situation was “proving to be extremely challenging” for residents.

“People are suffering,” he said. “There are people who didn’t expect this. I’m not sure we expected the extent of it.”

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There have been 39 requests for emergency assistance. Two C130 aircraft, each of which can carry 80 passengers, and a C27, which can carry 30, will be used to help relocate people.

“Fitzroy Crossing is now completely isolated and the only way to get in or out of it is by helicopter or specialised fixed-wing aircraft, which is dependent on conditions at the airstrip,” Dawson said.

The state government was also working on ways to evacuate people from remote Aboriginal communities or get medical supplies and food in.

Fitzroy Crossing local Chris Lozenicins said residents were concerned about food and fuel supplies in the town.

“At our main supermarket, which is an IGA, the car park is under water and there’s no access. The main mechanics business is under water. A lot of low-lying businesses are affected,” Lozenicins said.

“The supplies within IGA and Coles Express are basically dwindling, and there’s no sign of a truck coming in for another week.”

Flooding at Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley on Wednesday.
Flooding at Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley on Wednesday. Photograph: Callum Lamond

Lozenicins said they had run out of fresh produce, and many residents were helping evacuate families alongside authorities from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (Dfes).

The federal emergency management minister, Murray Watt, said on Wednesday that the Albanese government had approved a state request for defence force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas.

Darren Klemm, the fire and emergency services commissioner, said these were “very unpredictable, rare and severe flood events”, that could last for weeks.

“Our main priority is the preservation of lives and evacuating people from impacted areas,” he said.

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He warned people not to drive into water, and to avoid power lines and trees.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kandula Herat, the manager of the Fitzroy River Lodge, said about 30 people had arrived at the centre, which is acting as an evacuation point.

The government was working to set up more evacuation centres.

“Parts of the lodge are under water, but the rooms are OK,” Herat said. “If it goes up about another metre or two the lodge will be under water.”

The currents had become so strong that the small boats many residents use weren’t able to transport them across the flood waters, he said.

“We are keeping everything under control, that’s my job. But what I need is a big boat with a bigger motor in case the water comes up. We need one ASAP.

“We need one if anything goes wrong overnight so we can move stuff and people without putting more stress on Dfes. They’re looking after the town currently.”

Homes and businesses in the town are already underwater, with the peak expected to hit tonight
The Albanese government has approved a Western Australia request for defence force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas. Photograph: Patrick Davies/Facebook

Herat was also managing the IGA and said he was struggling to get a truck of supplies in. The lodge, however, would be OK for supplies for several weeks, he said.

The floods forced the evacuation of two sanctuaries run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Three people were airlifted off the Charnley River-Artesian range wilderness camp after power and water systems failed.

Four others were airlifted from the Mornington wilderness camp on Wednesday but four further people remained after flood waters swamped most of the buildings at the site.

It was hoped those still stuck could be rescued later in the day but that would depend on the weather generated by ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie.

Downstream, at Noonkanbah, major flooding was also likely.

– with Australian Associated Press


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