The far North Queensland township of Ingham is bracing for the worst flooding the region has seen in nearly a decade as heavy rainfall isolates homes and raises river levels.

The town, located approximately 110km north of Townsville, has essentially been split in two by the flooding and completely isolated with the Bruce Highway cut off in both directions.

The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology warned residents via Twitter that the Herbert River is expected to peak early this afternoon “at a similar level to 2009 event,” which saw tropical cyclone Ellie leave a vast majority of the town under water.

The river continues to rise, threatening to reach levels higher than the February 2009 disaster after receiving 300-600mm of rain in the past three days.

With a number of roads and all schools throughout the Herbert River region closed, hundreds of residents spent yesterday afternoon stripping supermarket shelves as they stocked up on supplies.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo warned residents to stock up on enough food, water and fuel for three to four days.

The floodwaters have also isolated a group of Townsville students on school camp in North Queensland.

Eight teachers and 72 Year 6 students from The Willows State School became trapped at the Echo Creek adventure park when roads between Cairns and Townsville became flooded.

Emergency services are preparing to provide the group with food supplies, however won’t attempt to rescue them due to safety risks.

Commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Katarina Carroll assured parents the children are in a “safe, secure and warm area” with teachers who are in constant contact with the Education Department.

Authorities are pleading with motorists not to attempt crossing flooded roads, with Queensland Police still reporting attempts of residents to drive through flood waters.

Craig Crawford, the Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, said there have been no reports of any serious injuries or deaths in the entire Queensland area as a result of the flooding.

“And that is the way I would like it to stay,” Minister Crawford added.

There are now several major flood warnings in place for rivers across the region including Herbert, Tully, Murray, Russel and Flinders, as well as the expectation that the communities of Halifax, Macknade and Lucinda will also become isolated.