Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji is continuing to drive widespread rain and flooding across northern and central Queensland, with authorities warning that saturated catchments and further falls this week could keep some communities cut off for an extended period. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued major flood warnings for several river systems, including the Isaac River at Yatton and the Mackenzie River at Tartrus, and has also warned of significant flooding on the Flinders and Georgina rivers. Further rain is forecast over already wet basins, raising the prospect of renewed rises in rivers that have been elevated for days. “This is likely to result in renewed river level rises and flooding. This situation is being closely monitored, and warnings will be updated as required,” the BoM said in its latest flood advice.
Sky News Weather presenter James Preston said modelling showed the remnants of Koji shifting towards north-west Queensland while continuing to produce heavy rain over inland and coastal communities. “We are going to see a continuation of pretty strong rainfall throughout Emerald and Rockhampton, and of course, that system is going to keep pushing up to the north-west out towards Burketown. So, expect more heavy rainfall up there in the coming days as well,” he said. The BoM has also flagged a high to very high chance of showers and thunderstorms for Townsville, Cairns, and Rockhampton, including the potential for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across parts of central and northern Queensland.
Local authorities report extensive damage to transport links, landslips on key roads, and disruption to essential services, with several communities now dependent on air resupply or preparing for that possibility. In Clermont, in central Queensland, more than a year’s typical rainfall has fallen within about a week. Emergency services issued a flash-flood warning on Jan. 12 as water rose across low-lying areas and local roads. Resident Ashleigh Brieffies said more than 250mm of rain fell on her property over several days, much of it on Jan. 11. “It came in pretty hard and fast. If it comes up another 2ft, we’ll probably be underwater. I think we’ll be looking for a boat or a chopper,” she said, as reported by The Guardian.
In the Mackay region, Mayor Greg Williamson said parts of the shire recorded up to 700mm in 48 hours, leaving the mountain community of Eungella isolated after damage to the main access road and closure of an alternative route. “That’s a serious amount of rain, and it’s brought with it some flash flooding,” he said. More than 200 residents are currently cut off, and Williamson said helicopter resupply is likely to be required, with the potential for Defence support depending on the duration and scale of the isolation.
Further inland, local governments report that the coal-mining hub of Dysart and parts of the Pioneer Valley have been cut off, with some areas also losing access to potable water after ground movement affected reservoirs. In the state’s north-west and Gulf country, councils and graziers have reported substantial cattle losses after weeks of flooding, with additional heavy rain still possible around towns such as Richmond. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said authorities were keeping a close watch on river systems that had already experienced “more than a year’s fall in a week period,” warning that further heavy falls over those saturated catchments “could be devastating for the north-west.”
Insurers are responding to the evolving situation by activating catastrophe and major event plans, ramping up claims handling capacity and positioning staff and mobile units closer to affected regions where access permits. Insurance Australia Group (IAG) said it is monitoring Koji’s aftermath from its round-the-clock major events command centre, with a focus on rainfall and flood risk on the southern side of the tropical low, particularly around Mackay. “IAG is closely monitoring rainfall around the southern side of the tropical low, which presents the possibility of flash flooding for communities in and around Mackay,” IAG meteorologist and senior weather risk analyst Kathryn Turner said.
The group said it intends to deploy on-the-ground support teams into the hardest-hit locations once emergency authorities deem entry safe. Customers of IAG brands – including NRMA Insurance, CGU, WFI, ROLLiN’, RACQ Insurance, and RACV – are being encouraged to lodge claims via phone or online channels. IAG has also set up physical recovery and support points in Victoria for customers affected by concurrent bushfire activity.
RACQ has moved its Mobile Member Centre (MMC), a mobile support unit, to the Mackay Showgrounds to assist members affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. The centre is operating daily, offering face-to-face claims assistance and information. Chief executive RACQ Insurance Trent Sayers said RACQ teams were working across North Queensland and the central coast to understand the scale of impacts and coordinate the insurer’s response. “As soon as it’s safe, we encourage members to lodge their claim online and upload photos of damage via the online portal or call us on 137202. We can then arrange emergency make-safe work [and] discuss any temporary accommodation and immediate needs that may be supported with emergency payments. Members who experience prolonged power outages can also access food spoilage payments under their contents insurance policy,” Sayers said.
Sayers said RACQ’s home and contents products cover events such as cyclone, flood, storm, and storm surge, and reminded policyholders to prioritise safety and comply with emergency directions. RACQ is advising members who can safely return home to document damage with photographs, dispose of spoiled food, remove saturated carpets to reduce mould risk, and keep receipts for essential replacement items such as bedding and clothing, to assist in claim assessment.
Suncorp has put its Mobile Disaster Response Hubs, customer support teams, assessors, and builders on standby to enter affected communities along the Queensland coast, and is also preparing to support customers in fire-affected areas of Victoria. Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston said the insurer is monitoring both flood and bushfire conditions from its Disaster Management Centre in Brisbane, using satellite imagery to gauge damage in areas that are not yet safely accessible. “We ask everyone to continue to put safety first, remain alert, and listen to warnings and advice. Stay away from impacted areas – particularly if there has been flooding or where active bushfire alerts remain. We encourage impacted customers to lodge their claims online as soon as possible,” Johnston said. As at 6pm AEST Jan. 11, Suncorp had received around 80 home and motor claims linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji and roughly 60 claims related to Victorian bushfires. The insurer noted that the federal government’s Cyclone Reinsurance Pool applies to eligible home and small business cyclone-related damage up to 10am AEST on Jan. 13, shaping how these claims are ultimately funded in the market.
Outside the general insurance sector, HCF has announced a disaster relief package for members affected by recent severe weather, including flooding associated with ex-Cyclone Koji in Queensland and other hard-hit regions nationwide. The package includes premium waivers of up to three months for eligible members, the option to suspend cover for up to two years, free mental health support through its HealthyMinds Check-in program, and online GP consultations for eligible members in rural and remote areas through its telehealth partnerships. HCF is urging affected members to contact its Member Support team or use online channels to assess their eligibility for the various measures.
QBE has also put additional staff on its claims lines as it responds to Koji-related losses, advising customers to notify claims as soon as they are safe to do so, even while access restrictions remain in some areas. “We’re working hard to support our customers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Koji,” the insurer said in an update, adding that assessors and trades will only enter impacted locations after emergency services confirm it is safe. Customers insured directly with QBE are being directed to phone and online lodgement channels, while those whose cover is arranged through intermediaries or financial institutions are being asked to contact those providers.
QBE is recommending customers follow emergency instructions, avoid driving through floodwater, treat damaged electrical items cautiously, and record damage with photographs or video. The insurer also advises policyholders to dispose of items that present a health risk after documenting them and to be alert to potential scams involving uninvited repairers or claims assistance, checking with QBE or their intermediary before agreeing to any work. For insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries, Koji’s inland path, the likelihood of further heavy rainfall over saturated catchments, and the overlap with bushfire exposures in southern states point to a prolonged period of claims management, site access constraints, and recovery work through the early part of 2026.
