Flash flood sweeps through Australia towns

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Flash flood sweeps through Australia towns

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A deluge of water sweeps through towns on the Sunshine Coast in Australia's north.

23 March,2012 02:35 pm

Heavy rain caused flash floods to sweep through townships on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Brisbane on Thursday (March 22), in what the local weather service described as a once-in-a-century deluge.Around the town of Maroochydore, a torrent of water one-metre (3 foot) high swept through streets, tossing cars and inundating stores.Emergency services received more than 600 calls for help, and reported 200 homes were flooded.Waters engulfed shops and restaurants in the tourist area normally known for its sunshine and beaches.Its completely flooded. Up to the tables, pretty much, said one woman as she helped to clear water from therestaurant using buckets.Many cars were stranded, stalling in flooded streets.Cars didnt know where to go. There are still some cars stuck down the back, there, said a local resident.It came up a foot more than it did in January. Weve never seen anything like this before, said another resident.Schools in the area were closed and children in a childcare centre were evacuated.A local supermarket said that much of its stock and computer systems were destroyed as the metre-high (3 foot) water flooded the building.The death of an elderly man in a road accident was attributed to the floods, through authorities described it as a miracle that more people werent hurt.The government of the state of Queensland has offered cash grants to people left without accommodation, food or clothing.