SYDNEY, April 5 (xinhua) -- Residents of the Queensland city of Rockhampton in Australia are bracing for major flooding on Wednesday, as the Fitzroy River levee reaches its peak.
Following heavy rain days ago, the Fitzroy River now stands at 8.4 meters, with 8.5 meters considered the maximum level for containment.
Emergency services are warning that over 1,800 homes and businesses could be lost as the river is expected to rise to 9 meters by Thursday morning.
The reason for the flood is due to the huge amount of precipitation brought by Cyclone Debbie last week.
The water from the tropical storm was collected in the Fitzroy Basin and has been slowly making its way south to the river system in Rockhampton and its 84,000 residents.
Authorities have told Xinhua, they're confident of the preparation and planning that is being done to protect life and property in the area.
"After previous flooding in 2011, extensive flood evaluations were done and that has led to a number of measures being implemented ahead of today's floods," A spokesperson from the Queensland State Emergency Services in Rockhampton said.
Adding that "a number of flood barriers have been erected around the city to protect vital assets and properties that are most at risk."
The 9 meters level on the Fitzroy River is expected to remain, engulfing the city until Saturday.
