The Australian military has been sent in to assist desperate communities in Queensland’s far north, where flood waters from ex-tropical cyclone Jasper have cut off towns, leaving residents without access to power, food and drinking water, and prompting warnings of crocodiles swimming through inundated streets.
Mayors in the region called for military aid after receiving more than 2 metres of rainfall in less than a week, breaking records for December. Major roads, railways and the region’s major airport were completely underwater on Monday
The Queensland tourist centre of Cairns, which has about 150,000 residents and is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, has been told to only use water for emergency purposes due a damaged treatment plant. About 13,000 households across the state have lost power with residents told it may be days until it is restored.
Queensland’s premier, Steven Miles, has urged people to be wary of crocodiles swimming through local streets. A crocodile almost three metres long was rescued from a flooded creek with a harpoon in the town of Ingham, next to a petrol station and a bakery.
“We have seen incredible acts of bravery continuing today, with families saved from roof tops and locals lending a hand to look after their neighbours,” Miles said. “We’ve had reports of people using mustering choppers and fishing boats to rescue strangers.”
The state’s health officer, Dr John Gerrard, warned that contaminated flood waters could lead to bacterial diseases including leptospirosis, which can bring fever, severe headache, sore muscles, chills, vomiting, and red eyes.
“If you’re involved in the cleanup that is to come, wear water resistant or enclosed footwear,” Gerrard said. “Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser. Cover cuts, abrasions and wounds with a water-resistant dressing.”
On Monday, helicopters were unable to reach the Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal, whose 280 residents must all be evacuated. Nine people in the community, including a child, spent Sunday night trapped on the roof of the local health clinic to escape the rising flood waters.
A second evacuation mission will be launched on Tuesday morning, with assistance from the Australian Defence Force. The council has sent a message to locals urging them to “hang in there” until help arrives.
“There’s nobody here for us, we’re here on our own,” the community’s deputy mayor, Regan Kulka, said. “There’s no emergency department at the hospital, the power is off, there’s no food in the store. We’re just being forgotten.”
Queensland’s police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, said no deaths or serious injuries have been reported as a result of the flood and urged people not to drive on flooded roads.
A severe weather warning for intense rainfall was cancelled on Monday afternoon, but the local weather service said there was still a “significant risk of shower and storm activity” in the region.
Dozens of December daily rainfall records have been broken in the far north including in Cairns, which received the most rain since 1964, and Cooktown, which had the heaviest falls since 1907.
There was also a record flood peak of about 15m at the Daintree River while the Barron River was at its highest since 1977.
In the 24 hours before the warning was lifted, emergency services received an average of more than 40 requests for help each hour. Some residents were rescued in inflatable rafts as waters rose metres above ground level. In Cooktown, 15 people gathered on the roof a hotel before being airlifted.
So far, about 150 defence personnel have been sent to assist local emergency teams with a military helicopter also available. On Monday evening, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese said helicopter support had been delayed due to the grounding a fleet due to safety issues.
The federal emergency management minister, Murray Watt, said it might be necessary to accept assistance from New Zealand to help keep communities safe and rebuild.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we do end up seeing support from New Zealand and if there is a need for their assistance I’m sure we’ll be pleased to take it up,” Watt said on Monday.
