Australia Floods After Record Rain Leave People Without, Water. Crocodiles Seen On Streets

Queensland state in Australia has been witnessing major floods with some regions receiving year's worth of rain.

Personnel conduct search and rescue operations in the flooded area in Queensland, Australia on December 18, 2023.

Major floods have inundated parts of northern Queensland in Australia caused by extreme weather triggered by tropical cyclone Jasper that has dumped year's worth of rain on some areas. The adverse condition in Wujal Wujal prompted the authorities to call off the evacuation of 300 residents from the region. 

No deaths or missing people have been reported so far, according to BBC. 

Hundreds of people have been rescued so far while authorities expect the flooding to be the worst recorded in the state, reported BBC, adding intense rainfall is expected to continue for another 24 hours. 

Apart from leaving the residents without access to power, food and drinking water, the floods have prompted warnings of crocodiles swimming through the inundated water. 

VIDEO: 🇦🇺 Crocodile pulled from floodwaters as storms hit Australia

A 2.5 metre (8.2 feet) crocodile swimming in a flooded creek in Ingham, #Queensland is removed by wildlife officers after being spotted by locals as heavy downpours forced evacuations and flood warnings pic.twitter.com/PTf7uwqPIY

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 18, 2023

Cairns city in the state has received over 2 metres of rainfall forcing the airport to shut after planes were trapped in floodwater on the runway. The authorities say the water have since cleared. 

Queensland Premier Steven Miles told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the flood was "about the worst I can remember.

"I have been talking to Cairns locals on the ground... and they say they have never seen anything like it," he said, adding: "For someone from far north Queensland to say that, that is really saying something."

He also urged the people to remain wary of crocodiles swimming through local streets. 

The Australian military has been sent to assist evacuation efforts in the region, as per a Guardian report. 

Queensland health officer, John Gerrard warned against the contaminated water that could causebacterial diseases including leptospirosis, which can bring fever, severe headache, sore muscles, chills, vomiting, and red eyes.