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Train derailed, two swept from car in Australia floods

BBC 27 December 2011 Last updated at 03:32 GMT

A freight train has been derailed and two people were swept from their car in flooding that struck Australia's Northern Territory.

Two crew members were hurt when the freight train was derailed from a bridge near Katherine, south of Darwin.

A man and a woman were also swept from their car on a bridge in the same area, and found clinging to a tree by police.

Heavy rain from Tropical Cyclone Grant, downgraded to a tropical low on Boxing Day, caused the floods.

The driver and co-driver of the train were rescued and are being taken to a hospital in Katherine.

The couple were trying to cross the bridge when their car stalled, according to media reports.

They climbed onto the roof but were carried away by floodwater.

Most of the Northern Territories have been spared the worst of the storm, which developed over the Christmas holiday weekend, media reports say.

But flooding is still a concern in several areas, meteorologists warn.

Train Swept Off Bridge As Floods Hit Oz

Sky News
11:11am UK, Tuesday December 27, 2011

A freight train was swept off a bridge during flooding caused by a cyclone in northern Australia.

The two drivers were rescued after being trapped in the vehicle and were flown to hospital in Katherine, south of Darwin, it was reported.

The Edith River Bridge collapsed and some carriages from the derailed train floated downstream in the incident, a local MP told ABC News.

Environmental authorities in the Northern Territory are believed to be investigating if chemicals from the 20-car iron ore train leaked in the flooded river.

Heavy rain from Cyclone Grant led to isolated flooding in the territory, cutting off roads as drivers became stranded.
One couple climbed on to their car roof after the vehicle stalled but they were swept along into the Edith River.

They clung to a tree branch until they were rescued.

Katherine Police Sergeant Simon Freson told ABC: "They initially reported that they were on the roof of the car.

"But as the water came up, they were washed off and thankfully emergency services got there on time to get them out of the trees."