One dead and major bridge collapses after Australia’s flood worsens

Aerial view of the flooded Don river in Bowen, Queensland - (Queensland Fire Department/AFP v)

One person died, thousands were evacuated and a major bridge collapsed as torrential rains inundated large parts of Queensland in what is feared to be one of Australia’s worst flooding in more than 60 years.

Part of the Bruce Highway – Queensland’s main transport artery stretching over 1,600km – has been washed away after days of relentless rain, severing critical supply routes and adding hundreds of kilometres to emergency detours.