Charleville on high alert

SES volunteer workers Nathan Thompson (left) and Matt Sullivan keep an eye on the rising waters at Bradleys Gully.

Leanne Day / Western Times

Related links

• Floodwaters surge through town
• Flood disaster declared in west
• Flood refugees bed down in centres

AUTHORITIES are on high alert at Charleville in south-western Queensland where a temporary levee is at risk of collapsing as floodwaters continue to rise.

Revised flood predictions suggest the Warrego River will exceed the height of the Charleville's levee some time before midday, but authorities say they cannot guarantee temporary levees will protect the town.

Emergency services have spent the night door-knocking, warning residents who were inundated during the 1997 floods or living near the temporary levee to evacuate.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has asked the Defence Force for assistance and says Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters are ready to deploy.

The engineers who designed the temporary levee were flown into Charleville yesterday, where they assessed the wall and told local authorities it may not be strong enough to hold back the amount of water flowing from the Warrego River.

Read the full story on ABC news online.