Flood chaos in Australia as water swamps Brisbane

Emergency sirens blared across Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city, on Wednesday as floodwaters that have torn a deadly path across the northeast poured into an empty downtown, swamping neighbourhoods. At least 22 people have died and more than 40 are missing across Australia's northeastern state of Queensland since drenching rains that began in November sent swollen rivers spilling over their banks, flooding an area larger than France and Germany combined.

Kellick Creek Flash Flood 10th Feb 2007

Flash Flood in Kellick Creek at Ringwood Road Crossing 10 miles south west of Merriwa, Upper Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia.

Kellick Creek is just outside the town of Merriwa in the Hunter Valley Region of New South Wales, Australia. This type of flood is an extremely rare event and was a result of approximately 125mm of rain in 30 minutes which fell about 5km upstream. The country had been in the midst of a major drought and groundcover was somewhat sparse.

The people filming were at the location somewhat by chance as they went for a drive to look at the effects of the rain immediatley after the storm. They had just turned to go home when they saw the water coming down the creek.