Asia-Pacific

Flood-stricken Brisbane 'improving daily': official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-18 14:02

BRISBANE, Australia - Australia's flood ravaged Brisbane is moving ahead rapidly and smoothly in its recovery, the city's disaster coordinator said on Tuesday.

Cranes submerged under flood waters in an industrial area of Brisbane January 13, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Brisbane District Disaster Coordinator Assistant Commissioner Peter Martin said the situation in the city was improving daily as residents returned home and services resumed.

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"The situation across Brisbane is progressing incredibly smoothly and fast," he said.

"I'm very very confident that as we are moving forward things are improving significantly day by day."

He said the local roads system was returning "to a semblance of normality", particularly with the reopening of the major road of Coronation Drive on Monday and buses were operating as normal.

Trains had resumed normal service with the exception of the Ipswich Line, which remains closed, he said.

He said Queensland electricity supplier Energex was trying to restore power to affected homes but about 20,000 were still cut off.

One hundred police from interstate have been brought in to help local officers deter and catch looters in flood-affected suburbs in Brisbane and Ipswich, west of Brisbane.