Evacuation as crane breaks mooring in Qld

Cheryl Goodenough |

A pontoon carrying a crane has broken free of its mooring on the Brisbane River, with police evacuating businesses.

Queensland Police ordered people to immediately evacuate the Howard Smith Wharves and Riverside Walkway along the river about 2pm on Monday.

Surrounding businesses have also been ordered to evacuate.

The city’s Story Bridge has been closed as authorities ask locals to stay away from the area.

It comes as eight people have died and up to three people are missing in Queensland’s “fast and furious” floods, which have damaged thousands of homes and businesses, after one year’s worth of rain fell on parts of the southeast.

The rainfall has impacted more than 18,600 homes and more businesses in southeast Queensland.

AAP