Teen killed in flooded river, north Queensland crops lost

BRISBANE: Recordbreaking rain from extropical cyclone Owen has wiped out crops in parts of north Queensland, and caused the death of a teen who jumped into a flooded creek.

However, experts last night said the worst was over, and Owen would not reform.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Halifax, inland of Ingham, was hardest hit on the weekend, recording 680mm of rain in just 24 hours.

That was almost five times the December average for the region, and broke the previous record of about 470mm in 1991.

The rain had caused flash flooding in the area, where farmers were reporting cane fields were under water.

‘‘This water over the top is not good for the cane [because] afterwards heat comes out and starts to boil the cane in the paddock and that’s when we’ll get our cane losses,’’ a farmer told ABC radio yesterday.

Meanwhile an 18yearold man who jumped into Big Crystal Creek with friends about 4pm on Sunday was swept away by rapids in the floodaffected creek in Mutarnee, north of Townsville.

Dane Bracey’s body was found by a friend a short time later.

The weather system was last night sitting off the coast of Mackay.

Heavy rain was still causing issues for motorists after more than 250mm fell in the previous 24 hours. Flood warnings remained in place for Myall Creek at Dalby, and the nearby Condamine River. — AAP