In far north Queensland, record-breaking rainfall has triggered extensive flooding, marking what authorities anticipate to be the worst flood event in the region’s history.
Thousands have been evacuated, but many others find themselves stranded in the deluge.
A tropical cyclone-driven extreme weather event has unleashed a year’s worth of rain in certain areas, causing havoc.
Cairns airport is submerged, with images capturing planes surrounded by water.
Unusual scenes include a crocodile appearing in a town, and residents fleeing their homes in boats.
Despite the widespread chaos, there have been no reported deaths or missing persons so far.
Intense rainfall is expected to persist for another 24 hours, complicating rescue efforts.
Hundreds have already been rescued, but numerous homes are flooded, power and roads are cut off, and the supply of safe drinking water is dwindling.
Cairns, receiving over 2 meters of rainfall since the onset of the weather event, faces unprecedented challenges.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles describes the situation as one of the worst he can recall, emphasizing the astonishment of residents who’ve never witnessed such conditions.
The primary concern is the rescue of those trapped by rising waters, especially in remote areas like Wujal Wujal, approximately 175km north of Cairns.
Emergency crews have faced difficulties, with nine people, including a sick child, forced to spend the night on a hospital roof.
While relocated on Monday, the entire town is now slated for evacuation due to concerns about essential services.
Forecasters predict continued heavy rain throughout Monday, coinciding with a high tide, intensifying the impact on low-lying communities.
Although the rain is expected to ease on Tuesday, swollen rivers are yet to peak, and their levels will remain elevated for days.
Several rivers are anticipated to surpass records set during the 1977 flood, with the Daintree River already exceeding the previous record by 2 meters after receiving 820mm of rain in 24 hours.
State officials estimate the disaster’s toll to exceed A$1 billion, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Australia.
The country is grappling with the impacts of an El Niño weather event, contributing to a series of recent disasters, including severe droughts, historic bushfires, record-breaking floods, and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
The situation underscores the urgent need for climate action, as highlighted in the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which warns of a future marked by escalating disasters unless immediate measures are taken to address climate change.
Queensland Floods: Cairns Airport Submerged, Crocodiles Seen After Rainfall
