PHOTOS: Devastating floods wash off crocodiles on Australia streets; military steps in

The “once-in-a-century" floods that have hit Australia’s northern state of Queensland, washed off crocodiles onto the streets of Townsville on Sunday (Photo by ERIN HAHN / ERIN HAHN / AFP)

Residents not only had to contend with flash flooding, landslides and power blackouts, but also reptilian predators that have been spotted in residential roads and cul-de-sacs. The Townsville Bulletin said it had received reports of several saltwater crocodile sightings in the flood-ravaged area, news agency AFP reported./ Image: Twitter @josephgmorgan19

State premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told AFP: “This is unprecedented, we've never seen anything like this before.”Some areas are expected to get a year's worth of rain in just over a week./ Image: Twitter @Panzer_Zand

Australia's military has been deployed to tackle the devastating floods that have inundated homes, schools and airports in the country's northeast, forcing hundreds to flee and bringing crocodiles onto the streets. (Photo by PTE Brodie Cross / AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE / AFP)

Australia's tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the monsoon season, but the recent downpour has far exceeded normal levels. The authorities were forced to open floodgates late Sunday, unleashing what they called "dangerous and high velocity flows. (Photo by STR / AFP)

"Small boats worked through the night to evacuate members of the community," AFP reported. Officials warned that communities will have to face more difficulties ahead. Schools and courts remain closed, more rain is on the way and emergency warnings still in effect for more than a dozen rivers. (Photo by STR / AFP)