Flood death toll rises to 12 as killer tide continues its march

[KeepItReal]

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

The death toll in the Queensland floods has risen to 12 after the bodies of two men were found this afternoon, as authorities estimate it will take two years and billions of dollars to repair the damage from the worst disaster in a century.

The number of people missing in the Toowoomba-Lockyer Valley area has been revised down to 51, with Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson saying there were still grave concerns for nine people.
...
A distraught Grantham local said he thought bodies he saw being thrown about in turbulent floodwaters were trying to swim, until he realised they were dead.

"You saw arms, hands, grey hair, and that was it, by the time you knelt down you realise they're not swimming, they are already gone," Martin Warburton told the Seven network.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/flood-death-toll-rises-to-12-as-killer-tide-continues-its-march-20110112-19my3.html

[timtom]

1. Holy Mutha!! We almost never think of our cousins down under!

Thanks for posting this. I am so, so sorry for their ordeal.

[jennied]

2. I've been following this story because I have an online friend in Brisbane

I'm very concerned. I hope all is well.

[KeepItReal]

3. Thank goodness for Skype. I can stay in touch with my friend there easily.

She's near Sydney and is ok.

[jennied]

4. I'm glad she's ok.

I haven't heard from my friend, but I read that there are power outages.
Hopefully I'll hear something later today.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, KeepItReal.

[AnnieBW]

6. The area that we walked through in 2008 is under water

The South Bank area, Riverwalk, etc. are all under water. I saw a pic of a place where we hailed a cab rather than walking up the steep hill to our hotel. The street level is now flooding. That means that the lower level, where the restaurants were, is totally flooded out.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/12/australia.floods1/index.html?hpt=T2