The worst rain in decades fell on northern Australia, trapping people on rooftops and even bringing a crocodile into a town.
Heavy rains produced by the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper have almost blocked off the city of Cairns, home to over 150,000 people and famous as the entrance to the Great Barrier Reef. Jasper made landfall last week before lingering over Queensland, according to officials.
"We have people stuck on roofs there that have been there all night," stated Premier Steven Miles of Queensland on Monday, December 18, according to CNN.
He added that nine individuals, including a child, were left trapped on the hospital roof about 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of Cairns. He said the cloud cover is too low, and the rain is too intense for the authorities to send aerial support there. They have personnel prepared to carry out rescues but cannot take further steps until it is completely safe.
On Monday, the Queensland State Emergency Agency said that 300 individuals were rescued in and around Cairns on Sunday, December 17. The authorities have said that no fatalities or injuries have been recorded.
A bar-restaurant is seen past fallen branches in Palm Cove as Cyclone Jasper approaches landfall near Cairns in far north Queensland on December 13, 2023.
Challenges Authorities Are Facing
According to Miles, Cairns had around 650 millimeters of rain for 19 hours and over 300 millimeters of rain in only six hours.
Images taken within the city revealed roadways that were either completely drowned or had crumbled due to murky water. The Cairns Airport was shuttered, and flights were canceled over the weekend after a picture showed some airplanes partly submerged, as reported by BBC.
Miles estimated that 15,000 people were left without electricity due to the rain. He pointed out that the real problem is that the rain is not stopping.
In addition, he cautioned that Cairns is facing severe water shortages and that the city council has issued a water conservation alert for use in times of emergency. Following the successful rescue of those who remain stuck, the authorities will face the formidable challenge of restoring electricity and communications, clearing roads, and ensuring access to drinkable water and sewage services.
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Encounter With Crocodile
Worried about snakes and crocodiles in the floods, authorities have also warned residents of flood-stricken Queensland.
On Monday, rangers from the town of Ingham said they had rescued a saltwater crocodile measuring 2.5 meters (8 feet) from a flooded stream close to a public park. According to CNN, two children contacted the police after witnessing the reptile, and officials from the state's environmental protection agency responded after seeing footage of the animal on social media. The rangers captured and hauled the crocodile out of the stream using a harpoon.
State environmental officials issued a statement warning residents of flood-affected regions not to be complacent and citing the recent capture of a crocodile as an important reminder that such creatures might appear unexpectedly, even in locations where they have never been seen before.
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