In a devastating turn of events, floodwaters from the heaviest rain in decades have left numerous families stranded on rooftops in northern Australia overnight. The aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall last week and stalled over Queensland, has effectively cut off Cairns, a city of over 150,000 people known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles expressed the dire situation, stating, “We have people stuck on roofs there that have been there all night.” He highlighted the challenges faced by rescue efforts, emphasizing the inability to deploy aerial support due to low clouds and heavy rain. Nine individuals, including a child, were reported stranded on the roof of a hospital about 170 kilometers north of Cairns.
The Queensland state emergency service reported rescuing around 300 people in and around Cairns on Sunday. Thankfully, no deaths or injuries have been reported so far. The city recorded staggering rainfall, with over 300 millimeters in six hours and more than 650 millimeters across 19 hours.
The repercussions of the deluge are evident in photos depicting submerged roads, damaged infrastructure, and collapsed thoroughfares. Cairns Airport remains closed, with all flights canceled, and approximately 15,000 residents are without power.
Premier Miles underscored the immediate need for rescue operations to address water shortages in Cairns, urging residents to conserve water for emergency use only. Once the stranded are rescued, authorities face the daunting task of restoring essential services, including drinking water, sewage systems, power, and telecommunications, while also clearing blocked roads.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, authorities have issued warnings about the presence of snakes and crocodiles in the floodwaters. In the town of Ingham, rangers removed an 8-feet-long saltwater crocodile from a flooded creek, underscoring the heightened risks faced by residents.
In the midst of unprecedented floods sweeping through Far North Queensland, rangers employed a harpoon to capture a crocodile that had ventured into a flooded creek, underscoring the unpredictable dangers residents face. The state environment department issued a statement, emphasizing that “people in flood-affected areas cannot be complacent” and highlighting the unforeseen presence of crocodiles in unconventional locations.
Major flood warnings are in effect for numerous rivers in Far North Queensland, of Australia according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). The BOM issued a stern alert about the looming threat of additional flash flooding in the region, with an anticipated 300 millimeters of rain every six hours on Monday between the towns of Hope Vale and Port Douglas.
BOM Senior Meteorologist Laura Boeke emphasized the ongoing risk, stating, “The risk in those areas is still very much there for potentially life-threatening and very dangerous flash flooding.”
What Prime Minster of Australia has to say
Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese expressed the government’s commitment to disaster relief efforts, assuring that the military stands ready to provide full support. Speaking to public broadcaster ABC on Monday, Albanese acknowledged the gravity of the situation, with the forecast predicting continued rain. He highlighted major flood warnings for communities already isolated or without power, emphasizing the government’s financial support for those directly impacted.
As Far North Queensland grapples with the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the relentless rains, communities remain on high alert, bracing for further challenges and potential flash floods. The collective efforts of rangers, meteorologists, and military personnel are crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents during this ongoing crisis.