Mayors in the region called for military aid after receiving more than 2 metres (6ft) of rainfall in less than a week, breaking records for December. Roads, railways and the region's main airport were underwater yesterday.
The tourist centre of Cairns, which has about 150,000 residents, has been told to use water only for emergency purposes owing to a damaged treatment plant. About 13,000 households across the state have lost power, and residents have been told it may take days to restore.
Queensland's premier, Steven Miles, has urged people to be wary of crocodiles swimming through local streets. A crocodile almost 3 metres long was rescued from a flooded creek with a harpoon in the town of Ingham yesterday.
"We have seen incredible acts of bravery continuing today, with families saved from rooftops and locals lending a hand to look after their neighbours," Miles said.
This story is from the December 19, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 19, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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