UPDATE: TELSTRA has sent technicians in choppers into central and northern Queensland to repair networks after Triple 0 services failed.
The fibre optic cable that carries much of the state's communications was damaged on Friday night by severe flooding at Colosseum, north of Bundaberg.A backup cable near Kingaroy, north west of Brisbane, was also damaged late on Sunday.
That, combined with a number of power blackouts, resulted in the loss of most landline and broadband services in Mackay, Freshwater, Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville, Mount Isa and Gladstone.
Telstra says many 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services across central and northern Queensland have also been impacted.
Temporary numbers have been established so people can contact emergency services in affected areas.
Telstra crews have been flown by helicopter to Kingaroy and Colosseum but services are not expected to be restored until this afternoon at the earliest.
Emergency numbers for northern and central Queensland:
- Cairns 4030 7000
- Mareeba 4030 3340
- Townsville 4750 5581 or 4750 5583
- Mt Isa 4744 1111 or 4744 1808
- Mackay 4968 3530
- Gladstone 4971 3222
- Rockhampton call via alternative carrier only
