Massive rain from tropical storm “Jasper” has flooded areas in the Australian state of Queensland and forced residents to flee. In the Cairns region, including in the area around the swelling Barron River and below the Copperlode Falls Dam, residents have been urged to seek shelter at higher ground. The city of Cairns airport was forced to close due to flooding.
Queensland’s Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles expressed deep concern about the situation in Australia’s far north in view of the persistent rain and spoke of a “serious weather emergency”. According to Miles, more than 10,000 people were without power on Sunday afternoon (local time). Some residents were also trapped in their homes by the storm.
A ten-year-old who was struck by lightning in the town of Beerwah and was being treated at the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane was still in mortal danger, according to Australian media.
Emergency services warn of dangerous floods
Scores of people had to be rescued after attempting to drive through flooded roads, according to the Queensland Fire Service. “We cannot emphasize more clearly how dangerous this is, not only for those who intentionally enter the water, but also for our emergency responders who risk their lives to save you,” the fire department wrote on Platform X.
Tropical cyclone “Jasper” reached Australia’s northeast coast on Wednesday. Over the course of the storm, which was initially classified as a level two cyclone, it weakened to a low level that continues to blanket the region with record-breaking rainfall. The affected region is rather sparsely populated; in the tropical regions south of the equator it is now the summer rainy season.
Authorities warned that heavy rain would continue for at least another day and the “life-threatening event” would continue.
