the burnett river reached a new recorded height of on 29 january. more than 7,500 residents of bundaberg were forced to evacuate from about 2,000 homes as the river's waters rose. 130 patients were evacuated from the bundaberg hospital to hospitals in brisbane. staff and resources from the department of health, queensland ambulance service, australian defence force, careflight (now lifeflight) and royal flying doctor service, including several aircraft, were used to transport patients.