Chemical leak fears after flood knocked over Queensland Rail train

A helicopter crew conducting an aerial inspection of the flood impact on the Mount Isa line spotted the train on Thursday afternoon, which had been stowed on high ground.

The flood was still impacting the train on Friday with no access available to the site.

QR chief executive Nick Easy said the 80-wagon train left at Nelia in Julia Creek on January 31 was carrying a mixture of chemicals including zinc, lead and copper anode.

"The aerial inspection showed the wagons at varying angles, with some on their side. It is understood that some product has spilled into floodwaters," he said.

"Due to floodwaters continuing to rise and heavy rainfall, Queensland Rail crews are unable to physically access the site.

"Upon identifying the impacted train, Queensland Rail immediately reported the issue to emergency services, the Department of Environment and Science and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, and has stood up a local incident co-ordination team.

"Queensland Rail will work closely with the different agencies to understand impacts and respond to the incident, and will continue to keep the local community updated.

"While Queensland Rail understands all other locomotives are safe and accounted for, further aerial inspections will be undertaken as soon as is safe to do so to confirm this.

"This is an unprecedented flooding event and Nelia is a high point in the area which has previously provided safe flood-free stowing for trains in flood events."

All other stowed third-party freight trains were safe.

The Mount Isa Line remained closed between Stuart and Cloncurry due to excessive flooding in multiple places.

The North Coast Line also remained closed between Ayr and Cairns.

Spirit of Queensland and Inlander passenger services were experiencing cancellations but replacement road coaches would be arranged if possible.

The bodies of two men were discovered as the water started to recede after the height of the flood in Townsville this week. Police believe without the combination of council tip trucks, army vehicles and specialist rescue teams, the death toll would have been much higher.

As flood-affected residents continue to push mud and ruined furniture out of their homes, disease-carrying mosquitoes have been added to the list of health risks.

Queensland Health said Townsville residents should cover their skin as much as possible and wear mosquito repellent during the clean-up operation.

"Mosquitoes, capable of transmitting diseases, might be more common after a natural disaster, so be sure to cover up with long and loose clothing and use insect repellent," a QH spokeswoman said.

"Once the clean-up has begun, it’s also important to take action and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

"Rain or floodwater may have collected in containers around people’s yards, providing an ideal place for mosquitoes to breed."

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said while there had not been any swift water rescues overnight, 40 more calls for help had been made to the SES from Townsville locals.

The spokeswoman said QFES planned to begin helping with cleaning up and washing mud from residents' homes at the weekend as the recovery operation kicked into top gear.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday almost 1000 homes were confirmed to have been either severely damaged or flooded beyond repair out of the near 1500 assessed.

QFES teams had inspected more than 2400 damaged homes in the north Queensland city by Friday.

Ms Palaszczuk said the clean-ups could take months, depending on the extent of the damage.

Thirty-seven state schools, four Catholic and independent schools and almost 50 childcare centres were closed on Friday.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill condemned the "scumbags" who she said had put the community at risk by stealing 100 litres of diesel from the council's sewage pump station during the flood recovery.

It came as six Townsville buildings were believed to have been looted in the past week after residents fled their homes and businesses in the wake of the flood event.

On Sunday night, described by emergency services as the worst during the extreme weather event, 1300 triple-zero calls were made by Townsville residents.