Brent Paterson/Portal
An aerial view of flood waters through the Barron River in Cairns, Australia, on December 18, 2023.
Sydney CNN –
Flooding caused by northern Australia's heaviest rain in decades has left a number of families stranded on rooftops overnight, as weather forecasters predicted more flooding on Monday, likely to hamper rescue efforts.
Cairns, a city of more than 150,000 people known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, was almost completely cut off by heavy rains caused by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall last week, authorities said. before coming to a stop over Queensland.
“We have people stuck on rooftops there who have been there all night,” Queensland Premier Steven Miles said on Monday.
Nine people, including a child, were stranded on the roof of a hospital about 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of Cairns, he said.
“We can't support them from the air because the clouds are so low and the rain is just so heavy,” he added. “So we have people willing to do these rescues. But we have to wait until this can be done safely.”
Joshua Prieto/AAP/AP
On December 16, 2023, a car was flooded with water near the Barron River in Cairns, Australia.
About 300 people were rescued in and around Cairns on Sunday, the Queensland State Emergency Service said on Monday. No deaths or injuries were reported, authorities said.
Cairns recorded more than 300 millimeters (about 11.81 inches) of rain in six hours and more than 650 millimeters (about 25.6 inches) in 19 hours, Miles said.
Photos from the city showed streets completely submerged in murky water, many of which were damaged or collapsed. An image from CNN affiliate Nine News showed a passenger plane half submerged while Cairns Airport was closed and all flights canceled over the weekend.
The rain left about 15,000 residents without power, Miles said. He added that there were “hundreds” of personnel on site – including police, military and energy providers – but “the real problem right now is that the rain just won't stop.”
He also warned of severe water shortages in Cairns, where the local council has warned people to keep water only for emergencies. After rescuing those still stranded, authorities would next have to deal with problems accessing drinking water, sewage systems, electricity and telecommunications, as well as clearing blocked roads, he said.
Joshua Prieto/AAP/AP
Fallen trees in a suburb of Cairns, Australia, on December 16, 2023 after heavy rain.
Severe flood warnings were in effect for several rivers in Far North Queensland on Monday morning, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). It warned of further flash flooding in the region, with 300 millimeters of rain expected every six hours between the towns of Hope Vale and Port Douglas on Monday.
“There is still a high risk of potentially life-threatening and very dangerous flash flooding in these areas,” said Laura Boeke, senior meteorologist at BOM.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also pledged the military's full support for disaster relief efforts, telling public broadcaster ABC on Monday that defense personnel were on standby. The government has provided financial support to residents directly affected, he said.
“Tragically, the forecast calls for even more rain today, and major flood warnings are in effect for several communities that are already cut off or without power,” Albanese said.