Sunday saw Australian authorities in Queensland state issuing orders for thousands of residents in the north to relocate to higher ground due to the danger of flooding brought on by heavy rain.
State officials confirmed that major flooding was taking place in some suburbs of Cairns, a key tourist destination and the main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, situated around 1,700 km (1,056 miles) north of Brisbane, the capital.
According to the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, “Properties in these areas may continue to experience flooding with the approaching high tide and continued rainfall. Residents should move to higher ground now.”
The torrential rain, caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, has led to the flooding and is expected to bring further heavy downpours on Sunday.
Australia’s weather forecasters have warned of “intense rainfall in the Cairns region, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding”.
The Cairns Local Disaster Management Group, which anticipated the flooding to peak later on Sunday, reported that homes, buildings, roads, and bridges had been inundated.
The agency also stated, “Power, water, sewerage, and telephone services could be lost in the area.”
At the tourist town of Daintree Village, located around 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cairns, flooding was also reported on Sunday, with approximately 350 mm (13.8 inches) of rain falling since 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to the weather forecaster.
“Heavy rainfall is forecast to continue for the remainder of Sunday,” the forecaster added. “The situation will continue to be closely monitored.”
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Alistair Bell)
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