Road closed in Innisfail due to flooding. Image credit: myPolice Cassowary Coast, Facebook.
Far North Queensland is experiencing major flooding after ex-tropical cyclone Jasper brought heavy rainfall to the region.
The category two cyclone took almost five days to move West, bringing four months worth of rain to the Barron River catchment in 24 hours.
“The information that we rely is from the BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) and they were telling us that this system was going to slowly cross the peninsula and pop out in the gulf,” said Cairns Mayor Terry James.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t. It got halfway across and stopped and just hovered.”
Some areas have been without water for more than 24 hours and without power for days.
Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, said the entire town of Wujal Wujal needs to be evacuated.
There were reports that residents were trapped in trees and on the roof of houses and the local health clinic.
Extreme weather conditions prevented rescue teams from reaching them on Monday, but it is believed that another evacuation attempt was made Tuesday morning.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was “extraordinarily challenging” for emergency services with over 300 people rescued.
“I am a far northerner, I remember those floods in 1977, and have been through many disasters and cyclones in that part of the world,” she said.
“I must say, what we’ve seen over the last couple of days has been absolutely devastating.
“We have not seen the volume of water at least since that time.”
Cairns residents are urged to only use water for critical purposes until further notice, as the treated water supply in reservoirs has depleted.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has advised that heavy rainfall is easing in Cairns and river levels have begun to fall to moderate levels.
Areas of Far North Queensland remain waterlogged.
