According to a report by Reuters, heavy rain caused by a coastal trough associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper resulted in the isolation of several tourist towns in northern Australia along the Great Barrier Reef on Monday. The fast-rising rivers forced evacuations, with some residents taking refuge on rooftops.
Last week, Jasper caused widespread damage in the far north regions of Queensland before being downgraded to a tropical low. Over the weekend, it brought several months’ worth of rain in just a few hours, leading to significant disruption.
The town of Cairns, which is home to over 150,000 people and serves as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, experienced around 600 mm (24 inches) of rain over 40 hours through early Monday morning. This amount is more than triple the usual December mean of 182 mm (7.17 inches).
All flights, both international and domestic, from Cairns airport were canceled on Monday. Social media footage showed planes partially submerged on the tarmac. Cairns Airport stated that “significant debris” on the runway needed to be cleared before operations could resume.
The weather bureau has predicted more rain as Jasper is expected to linger through Monday, with certain regions likely to receive around 300 mm of rain within six hours. Major flood warnings have been issued due to rivers remaining above danger levels, and there are concerns that the records set in 1977 might be broken.
In the town of Ingham, about 250 kilometers south of Cairns, a crocodile was spotted in a swollen drain, prompting authorities to warn residents against swimming in flood waters. Additionally, nine people, including staff and patients, were stranded on the roof of a health clinic.
A resident just north of Cairns Airport, identified as Dan, shared his experience with ABC Radio, describing how he had to take shelter on top of his kitchen bench for around four hours before being taken to a house where around 30 people were waiting on the roof for rescue boats. He recounted a harrowing journey navigating the fast-flowing water and dodging debris.
The situation continues to be monitored, with more updates expected as the situation develops.
Source: Reuters
