From late December through mid January, the state of Queensland in Australia was hit with disastrous flooding. At least 19 people were killed, with many still missing. Homes, factories, bridges, roads and railroads were damaged or destroyed. At its peak, the flood covered two-thirds of the state, inundating an area the size of Germany and France combined.
Murphys Creek as well as Toowoomba and Grantham, in the Lockyer Valley region west of Brisbane, were devastated by flash floods. In Brisbane, a reported 20,000 homes were flooded.
On Feb. 1, Cyclone Yasi hit Queensland, affecting 900 kilometers of coastline. A category-5 cyclone, Yasi weakened as it moved inland, but further flood damage was expected.