True extent of the devastating Queensland floods are revealed as a 'mega-river' suddenly appears - and it's so wide it can be seen from SPACE

  • Full extent of north-west Queensland flood crisis revealed via satellite imagery
  • Long, but usually narrow Flinders River has expanded to 70km-wide 'mega river'
  • Flinders is experiencing its most significant flooding in more than half a century
  • The floodwaters have engulfed an area about the same size as New Caledonia  

The flood crisis in north-west Queensland has killed 500,000 cattle, destroyed homes and caused hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage.

But now the clouds have lifted, the full extent of the deluge has been revealed.

Satellite images show how the 1,000km long, but usually narrow, Flinders River has expanded into a 70km-wide wall of water. 

The river is experiencing its most significant flooding in more than half a century, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Wednesday.  

The full extent of the north-west Queensland flood crisis revealed via satellite imagery. Left is an image of the barely noticeable Flinders River before the deluge. Right, the floodwaters are clearly viable from space 

The Bureau of Meteorology said the main body of floodwaters in the Flinders River is covering an area abou the same size as New Caledonia

The Bureau of Meteorology said the main body of floodwaters in the Flinders River is covering an area abou the same size as New Caledonia

'By our hydrologists' calculations the main body of floodwaters in the Flinders River is approximately 300-400km long and 70km wide,' the Bureau said.

'[That's] a total of 16,000 square kilometres. Roughly the same size as New Caledonia.'  

The muddy waters of the state's longest river are slowly moving towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the usually pure waters have been turned a murky brown.

'The Flinders River system is now a flood plain. This is a mega river making its way up to the gulf,' Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe told news.com.au.  

Satellite images show how the 1,000km long, but usually narrow, Flinders River has expanded into a 70km-wide wall of water

Satellite images show how the 1,000km long, but usually narrow, Flinders River has expanded into a 70km-wide wall of water

Pictured: An aerial shot of Richmond,  which lies on the Flinders River, taken last week 

Pictured: An aerial shot of Richmond, which lies on the Flinders River, taken last week 

The muddy waters of the state's longest river are slowly moving towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the usually pure waters have been turned a murky brown

The muddy waters of the state's longest river are slowly moving towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the usually pure waters have been turned a murky brown

'The amount of rainfall has been staggering... A year's worth of rain fell in one week and that's a record flood event for the Flinders River.

'All that water, half a metre of rain, has flowed into one basin combining into one giant river.' 

Queensland Flood Services Manager Victoria Dodds said major flooding in the region is expected to continue well into next week. 

'Satellite imagery and drone footage has revealed the vast nature of the flood crisis in Queensland and our thoughts are with all those affected,' she said.  

Queensland Flood Services Manager Victoria Dodds said major flooding in the region is expected to continue well into next week. A shot of the overflowing Flinders River is seen in Richmond

Queensland Flood Services Manager Victoria Dodds said major flooding in the region is expected to continue well into next week. A shot of the overflowing Flinders River is seen in Richmond

Pictured: A flood-affected area near Julia Creek near the Flinders River in north-west Queensland

Pictured: A flood-affected area near Julia Creek near the Flinders River in north-west Queensland

Authorities are racing to dispose of hundreds of thousands of dead animals in the state's west to limit the spread of disease 

Authorities are racing to dispose of hundreds of thousands of dead animals in the state's west to limit the spread of disease 

'Our focus remains on providing detailed hydrology and flood forecasting services for large areas of the state.

'Many catchments and river systems are still impacted by flood waters, and some are likely remain so for days and weeks to come.'  

Meanwhile, floodwaters contaminated with a soil-borne bacteria have ramped up the disease risk in parts of the state.  

One woman has died and nine people remain seriously ill in Townsville after becoming infected by melioidosis bacteria following unprecedented flooding.

Are road in the Queensland town of Richmond in inundated with water flowing from the Flinders River 

Are road in the Queensland town of Richmond in inundated with water flowing from the Flinders River 

Townsville Hospital's Julie Mudd says seven of the sick people remain in hospital in a stable condition, two others are being cared for at home.

'It's a very serious infection,' Dr Mudd said.

About one in five people who contract the infection die, however, the infection can be treated with antibiotics.

The bacteria can enter the body through a cut or a person's airway, and the elderly and children are at higher risk, Dr Mudd said.

The death in Townsville takes the flood toll to three, following the deaths of two men more than a week ago.

This photo shows a flood-affected area near Julia Creek township in Queensland last week 

This photo shows a flood-affected area near Julia Creek township in Queensland last week 

Graziers are braced for major stock losses but can't yet get a handle on what's happened to their animals

Graziers are braced for major stock losses but can't yet get a handle on what's happened to their animals

Police are still searching for a 35-year-old man who disappeared in floodwaters at Groper Creek, south of the city, on Friday.

Further inland, authorities are racing to dispose of hundreds of thousands of dead animals in the state's west to limit the spread of disease.

Cattle, sheep and wildlife perished in the unprecedented two-week rains, which left large swathes of the state under water.

Their rotting carcasses pose a high risk of botulism and Q fever to clean-up crews and to local water supplies in flooded communities. 

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