Cairns airport has been closed in anticipation of record flooding in the far north Queensland city as the state premier, Steven Miles, declared a “serious weather emergency” in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
On Sunday afternoon Miles said flood levels in Cairns were expected to exceed the previous record of 1977 and there were “significant concerns” for many communities in the far north.
“We’ve seen rainfall in some places of almost 600mm with more to come,” he said. “There are currently 10,500 people without power.”
Emergency crews responded to calls after heavy rainfall battered towns, causing power outages and trapping some people in their homes.
A 10-year-old girl who was struck by lightning in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast during severe thunderstorms on Saturday was in a critical condition in Queensland children’s hospital in Brisbane on Sunday.
While Jasper was downgraded to a “tropical low” and reached the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria overnight on Saturday, heavy rainfall continued on Sunday as people awaited rescue near Cooktown, Mena Creek and Mount Molloy.
Among them were two men who had been stranded for more than 16 hours at Melonsby station in Cooktown. Police said emergency services had been called to the property about 10.40pm on Saturday by reports the men were trapped there.
“Initial investigations indicate both men are safe and well, with an evacuation expected to take place when weather permits, and it safe to do so,” a police spokesperson said just before 2pm on Sunday.
State Emergency Service crews responded to 532 requests for help in the 24 hours to midday on Sunday.
Authorities on Sunday afternoon warned far north residents to expect continuous heavy rainfall for at least another day in what they called a “life-threatening event”.
They urged people to stay in their homes and avoid driving unless they felt unsafe and needed to get to a nearby evacuation centre.
“I have never seen rain like this,” said a Port Douglas resident, Sara Mulcahy. “Roads are flooded, we are cut off from Cairns, Mossman and the interior. People are having to leave their homes in the low-lying parts.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued an warning on social media after it said multiple people in far north Queensland had been rescued after deliberately driving into flood waters.
“We cannot be clearer on how dangerous this is, not only for those deliberately entering the water, but also for our emergency services who risk their lives to save you,” QFES wrote.
An emergency alert was issued for Mossman on Sunday morning, with authorities warning people to seek shelter at home or evacuate to the local high school.
The deputy premier, Cameron Dick, announced an expansion of the state and federal government’s disaster assistance program to allow more residents to apply for emergency payments and some councils to apply for reconstruction grants.
On Sunday afternoon the Bureau of Meteorology had major flood warnings in place for the Barron, Daintree, Herbert, Mulgrave, Tully and Murray rivers and the Johnstone River catchment. There were flood warnings for the Mossman and Russell rivers.
The weather bureau said it was uncertain how strong Jasper would be next weekend and there was a “moderate risk” it could re-develop from next Saturday.
Générateur de pièces TikTok gratuitement 2023 2024
Your Ticket to Chat Domination: Free Coins in LivU Video Chat
The Future of Free Spins in Coin Master: Trends and Predictions
Avakin Life Avacoins Hack: Expert Recommendations
Free Credits in Bingo Blitz: The Future of Bingo Gaming
The Secret Formula for Spins Generation in Coin Master
new genshin impact free primogem codes for december 2020
Boost Your ZEPETO Experience with Free Zems
match master free coins 62594 publisher publications issuu
Tiktok Coins Free . How I Got TikTok Coins Hack Without Buy
Brawl Stars Gems Hack: Elevate Your Brawl Stars Adventure
TikTok Unlimited Coin and coins
Générateur de pièces TikTok gratuitement 2024
The Science of Free Coins Farming in LivU Video Chat
Coin Master Free Spins Hack: A Complete Overview
Free Avacoins in Avakin Life: Proven Strategies
The Power of Credits in Bingo Blitz: Explained
Coin Master Spin Generator Insights: Truth vs. Fiction
genshin impact codes jan 2023 free primogems and mora vg247
ZEPETO Zems Hack: Elevate Your ZEPETO Experience
match masters application key free coins match master
FREE TIKTOK COINS GENERATOR
Tiktok Coins Hack – Generator Without Verification 2023
tiktok coin generators ios 2023
Générateur de pièces TikTok gratuitement 2023 2024