Floods threaten threaten towns

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8 March 2010

Insurers are counting the cost of extensive flooding in southwest and southeast regions of Queensland through last week, and Premier Anna Bligh has called on them to “show some compassion”.

Floodwaters deluged towns including St George, Charleville and Roma, inundating homes and causing losses to property and stock. In St George 40 of the town’s 2800 residents were forced to evacuate in the worst flood in 120 years.

Some 500 people gathered at an evacuation centre in Charleville at the height of the flooding, while a further 200 people escaped rising floodwaters in Roma.

The Insurance Council of Australia has established a taskforce to co-ordinate recovery issues. A spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au it’s too early to estimate potential insured losses.

The floods are now moving south of St George, with townships of Thallon and Dirranbandi near the NSW border now threatened.

Ms Bligh reportedly called for insurers which don’t cover flood to “show some compassion” for affected residents.

“Right now these communities need a helping hand and I hope that insurance companies don’t quibble over the fine print,” she told reporters.