Deadly Floods Isolate Northern Australian Towns, Strand Families as Crocodiles Roam Streets

Torrential downpours have inundated parts of northern Australia over recent days, cutting off towns, stranding families on rooftops overnight, and even sweeping crocodiles into populated areas.

The extreme weather is being driven by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall last week before stalling over Queensland state.

Cairns, a major gateway city to the Great Barrier Reef with a population exceeding 150,000, has been largely severed from the outside world amid the deluge.

On Sunday alone, about 300 rescues were carried out in Cairns and surrounding regions by emergency crews racing to save residents trapped by rising floodwaters.

While no deaths or injuries have been reported so far, the crisis is far from over. Forecasters are predicting further intense rainfall over the coming days, which is likely to hamper rescue efforts and cut off more communities.