The article text:
Flooding in Australia has inflicted "incredible" devastation on communities across northern Queensland, the state's premier has said, even though conditions are easing faster than predicted. Thousands of residents who evacuated from their homes are set to return on Tuesday, but fears linger as hundreds of homes and businesses may have been inundated. "It's a disaster that's going to test the resolve of people," Premier David Crisafulli told the ABC. Parts of the region have experienced nearly 2 meters (6.5 ft) of rain since Saturday, prompting ongoing flood warnings and blackouts. However, the premier noted that weather conditions had been "really kind" in recent hours. In Townsville, locals woke to grey skies with only drizzle, alongside good news that predicted flooding levels did not materialize. This contrasts sharply with the intense downpours that have battered the area recently. The improved conditions allow residents advised to leave six Townsville suburbs to potentially "dodge a bullet," according to the premier. Nonetheless, further north, damaged roads and poor communications are complicating damage assessments in towns like Ingham and Cardwell. Crisafulli, who grew up in Ingham, expressed concern regarding the shocking extent of flooding. "I've seen images of water in businesses that never in my wildest dreams thought I'd see water in shops there in the high part of town," he said. More than 8,000 properties remain without power, and the partial collapse of a key highway hampers recovery efforts. Crisafulli emphasized that the recovery process will "take some time."
Flooding in Australia has inflicted "incredible" devastation on communities across northern Queensland, the state's premier has said, even though conditions are easing faster than predicted. Thousands of residents who evacuated from their homes are set to return on Tuesday, but fears linger as hundreds of homes and businesses may have been inundated. "It's a disaster that's going to test the resolve of people," Premier David Crisafulli told the ABC. Parts of the region have experienced nearly 2 meters (6.5 ft) of rain since Saturday, prompting ongoing flood warnings and blackouts. However, the premier noted that weather conditions had been "really kind" in recent hours. In Townsville, locals woke to grey skies with only drizzle, alongside good news that predicted flooding levels did not materialize. This contrasts sharply with the intense downpours that have battered the area recently. The improved conditions allow residents advised to leave six Townsville suburbs to potentially "dodge a bullet," according to the premier. Nonetheless, further north, damaged roads and poor communications are complicating damage assessments in towns like Ingham and Cardwell. Crisafulli, who grew up in Ingham, expressed concern regarding the shocking extent of flooding. "I've seen images of water in businesses that never in my wildest dreams thought I'd see water in shops there in the high part of town," he said. More than 8,000 properties remain without power, and the partial collapse of a key highway hampers recovery efforts. Crisafulli emphasized that the recovery process will "take some time."
