Cairns faces most devastating floods in decades
- Replies 10
Cairns, a tropical city known for its lush landscapes and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, is currently facing an unprecedented natural disaster due to Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
The region is grappling with the worst floods it has seen in decades, leaving communities isolated, infrastructure damaged, and essential services disrupted.
The deluge has affected a vast 250km area, stretching from Cooktown in the north to Innisfail in the south.
The relentless rainfall has rendered airborne rescue and supply missions impossible, with heavy rain and low clouds grounding helicopters crucial for reaching stranded residents.
The Queensland Police and Fire Service, the State Emergency Service (SES) and the Cairns Navy base HMAS Cairns have been working tirelessly to rescue those trapped by the rising waters.
So far, they have successfully evacuated 300 people from communities such as Yorkies Knob and Holloways Beach.
Despite the severity of the situation, authorities have confirmed that there have been no fatalities or serious injuries—a testament to the swift action and preparedness of emergency services.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said, ‘I must say, what we’ve seen over the last couple of days has been absolutely devastating.’
In response to the crisis, three additional rescue helicopters are en route to Cairns, and there is a call for heavy-lift aircraft, particularly Chinook helicopters, from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to assist in the efforts.
The floods have also wreaked havoc on the region's infrastructure. Roads and rail systems are severed, with fallen trees and landslides preventing access.
The state's road authorities are on standby, waiting for the waters to recede to assess the full extent of the damage and begin the arduous cleanup process.
Sally Stannard, Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has warned that all major state-controlled roads are closed and that locals can expect ‘months of repair work to be done’.
Adding to the woes, Anthony Hamill from Ergon Energy has announced that the initial target to restore power to some 14,000 homes by Tuesday evening is no longer achievable.
The provider cannot offer a new timeframe for when power will be restored, leaving many residents in the dark and uncertain.
The situation has become even more dire as Cairns has ‘run out of processed drinking water’.
Cairns Mayor Terry James confirmed that the city's treated water supply in its reservoirs had been depleted due to the flooding's impact on water infrastructure.
Residents who still have access to water are being urged to conserve it strictly for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene, or medical needs.
Blockages in the water system have prevented treatment, and the council is working against the clock to clear the debris and restore the water supply.
‘There is very limited supply which may run out this morning if water cannot be restored to the treatment plant. Some suburbs in Cairns may already be without water due to damaged infrastructure,’ a statement from the Shire Council dated October 18 said.
The community's cooperation is crucial during this challenging period, and the council is urging residents not to use water for drinking and food preparation, personal hygiene, and medical needs.
‘Council has not turned water off, as many are reporting,’ Mayor James said.
‘We have simply run out of processed water.’
‘Our crews navigated very challenging conditions and landslides and had to climb their way into Crystal Cascades to access and clear the debris from the intake to the treatment plant.’
‘Work to restore water supply is ongoing. We are hopeful of clearing the blockage today.’
Once services return to normal, the water supply will remain limited until reservoirs can be replenished.
‘The cooperation of the Cairns community in conserving water during this challenging period is crucial,’ Mayor James added.
‘We do not want to see people outside hosing their driveways.’
Cairns' water system, which consists of interconnected reservoirs capable of holding about 250 million litres, is under strain.
With an average daily usage of about 65 million litres, the reservoirs can only sustain the city for over four days when full.
The total depletion of these reserves means that residents may soon have to rely on bottled water or personal tanks for their water needs.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) had earlier issued an urgent warning of ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding and destructive winds of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, reaching up to 140km/h in some areas.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
For any members in affected areas or those concerned, the Queensland Government has a directory for personal hardship financial assistance. You can check it here.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share them with us in the comments below.
The region is grappling with the worst floods it has seen in decades, leaving communities isolated, infrastructure damaged, and essential services disrupted.
The deluge has affected a vast 250km area, stretching from Cooktown in the north to Innisfail in the south.
The relentless rainfall has rendered airborne rescue and supply missions impossible, with heavy rain and low clouds grounding helicopters crucial for reaching stranded residents.
Cairns has experienced devastating flash floods in decades. Credit: news.com.au
The Queensland Police and Fire Service, the State Emergency Service (SES) and the Cairns Navy base HMAS Cairns have been working tirelessly to rescue those trapped by the rising waters.
So far, they have successfully evacuated 300 people from communities such as Yorkies Knob and Holloways Beach.
Despite the severity of the situation, authorities have confirmed that there have been no fatalities or serious injuries—a testament to the swift action and preparedness of emergency services.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said, ‘I must say, what we’ve seen over the last couple of days has been absolutely devastating.’
In response to the crisis, three additional rescue helicopters are en route to Cairns, and there is a call for heavy-lift aircraft, particularly Chinook helicopters, from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to assist in the efforts.
The floods have also wreaked havoc on the region's infrastructure. Roads and rail systems are severed, with fallen trees and landslides preventing access.
The state's road authorities are on standby, waiting for the waters to recede to assess the full extent of the damage and begin the arduous cleanup process.
Sally Stannard, Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has warned that all major state-controlled roads are closed and that locals can expect ‘months of repair work to be done’.
Adding to the woes, Anthony Hamill from Ergon Energy has announced that the initial target to restore power to some 14,000 homes by Tuesday evening is no longer achievable.
The provider cannot offer a new timeframe for when power will be restored, leaving many residents in the dark and uncertain.
The situation has become even more dire as Cairns has ‘run out of processed drinking water’.
Cairns Mayor Terry James confirmed that the city's treated water supply in its reservoirs had been depleted due to the flooding's impact on water infrastructure.
Residents who still have access to water are being urged to conserve it strictly for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene, or medical needs.
Blockages in the water system have prevented treatment, and the council is working against the clock to clear the debris and restore the water supply.
‘There is very limited supply which may run out this morning if water cannot be restored to the treatment plant. Some suburbs in Cairns may already be without water due to damaged infrastructure,’ a statement from the Shire Council dated October 18 said.
The community's cooperation is crucial during this challenging period, and the council is urging residents not to use water for drinking and food preparation, personal hygiene, and medical needs.
‘Council has not turned water off, as many are reporting,’ Mayor James said.
‘We have simply run out of processed water.’
‘Our crews navigated very challenging conditions and landslides and had to climb their way into Crystal Cascades to access and clear the debris from the intake to the treatment plant.’
‘Work to restore water supply is ongoing. We are hopeful of clearing the blockage today.’
Once services return to normal, the water supply will remain limited until reservoirs can be replenished.
‘The cooperation of the Cairns community in conserving water during this challenging period is crucial,’ Mayor James added.
‘We do not want to see people outside hosing their driveways.’
Cairns' water system, which consists of interconnected reservoirs capable of holding about 250 million litres, is under strain.
With an average daily usage of about 65 million litres, the reservoirs can only sustain the city for over four days when full.
The total depletion of these reserves means that residents may soon have to rely on bottled water or personal tanks for their water needs.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) had earlier issued an urgent warning of ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding and destructive winds of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, reaching up to 140km/h in some areas.
For any members in affected areas or those concerned, the Queensland Government has a directory for personal hardship financial assistance. You can check it here.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share them with us in the comments below.
.png){kind=icon}
