Troops on the ground, crocs sighted after record floods
Troops are expected to descend on the top of Australia as residents begin clean-up efforts and other regions prepare for heavier rains.
Members of the Australian Defense Force are expected to arrive in Katherine in the north of the Northern Territory on Monday at the request of NT Premier Lia Finocchiaro at the weekend.
Flooding in Katherine was the worst in almost 30 years and crocodiles were spotted in the city.
The number of homes and businesses affected is still being tallied, but the Insurance Council of Australia has declared this a major incident.
While the Daly River community’s vision shows floodwaters reaching roof height, Ms Finocchiaro said the NT was still in the emergency response phase.
Record river levels completely impacted the community, reaching 16.38 meters at the police station on Saturday afternoon.
“We are working really well with our federal colleagues in this response phase for this unprecedented region-wide flooding,” Ms. Finocchiaro said in a statement on social media on Sunday. he said.
“It’s really important to continue the recovery phase and the floodwaters haven’t even receded, but it’s in the back of our minds that we need to rebuild the Territory together.”
Bundaberg is one of many Queensland communities in recovery mode after more than 350 homes and businesses were flooded.
A 51-year-old man who disappeared into the flooded Burnett River from a houseboat at Sharon, next to Bundaberg, on Friday was found alive on Sunday.
The disaster claimed the lives of two Chinese backpackers who jumped off a bridge on their way from Brisbane to the rain-hit North Burnett region.
Rescue efforts took place at Mossman and Redlynch in Far North Queensland on Sunday morning after heavy rain caused flash flooding and rivers to rise.
Major flood warnings were in place for the Thomson River at Longreach, the Upper Balonne River at Surat and Cooper Creek at Windorah on Monday morning.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the Thomson River was rising incredibly slowly at Longreach, leaving residents frustrated.
58 Queensland local government areas are currently receiving assistance due to the incessant rain and subsequent flooding that has inundated the state since Christmas.
