Man’s body found in Cairns house following severe flooding, police investigating if connected to weather

Boulders the size of houses, 100m landslides and flooding have hit parts of north Queensland, with a third of the annual rainfall dumped on the area in just 24 hours.

As areas of the North Tropical Coast continued to feel the after-effects of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper, widespread heavy downpours inundated the region with flash flooding.

And Cairns airport remained closed on Monday in a disaster that left more than 14,000 people without power and could cost far north Queensland’s tourism sector $60 million in holiday cancellations.

The Weather Bureau reported a trough associated with Jasper produced more than 500mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am Monday in the Daintree, Mossman, and Barron catchments.

To put that in perspective, the Barron catchment on average receives 1442mm per year, with 500mm equating to about four months worth of rain in a 24-hour period.

The bureau said that the intense rainfall was expected to ease but that a “significant risk” of showers and storms.

Late on Monday there had been no reports of deaths or serious injury in the flooding. One person was found dead in a home in Cairns’ northern beaches, although authorities said that was the result of a medical episode.

But Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll warned: “The situation is still significant … if you don’t have to be on the roads, do not be on the roads. We are concerned about people being caught in flash flooding. Always remember if it’s flooded — forget it.”

About 16 people — including a seven-year-old boy at Wujal Wujal hospital — were stuck before getting to higher ground on Monday. But nine people remain on houses at nearby Degarra and Bloomfield.

New Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the State had pulled “every single boat they could find” to conduct rescues in and around Cairns. The Defence Force is also in the area helping out.

“So everyone from the yacht club to the navy, to SES, to even the surf lifesavers,” Mr Miles said. “We have seen incredible acts of bravery, with families saved from rooftops and locals lending a hand to look after their neighbours. We’ve had reports of people using mustering choppers and fishing boats to rescue strangers.”

He said he had spoken to people who had lived in Cairns their entire life who said they had “never seen anything like this”. “While we were expecting very heavy rainfall in the wake of the cyclone, this is next level,” he said.

Camera IconCairns flood – Not even record-breaking floodwaters could keep a bunch of Far North Queenslanders from their local watering hole. Hotel Euramo, a small country pub near the banks of the Tully River, 155km south of Cairns, rebranded itself the “Euramo Yacht Club” on Sunday night. Extraordinary footage shared by the hotel shows dozens of patrons braving floodwaters in their dinghies to get a beer. One clip shows a dozen boats moored to the pub’s patio as the cheery patrons hoot and holla despite the flood carnage unfolding around them. Credit: Hotel Euramo / Facebook/ Hotel Euramo / FacebookCamera IconNew Queensland Premier Steven Miles this morning described the floods as ‘next level’. Credit: Hotel Euramo / Facebook/Hotel Euramo / Facebook

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the footage of the disaster was “horrific” and he would be visiting the region “when it is feasible”, which could be as soon as Tuesday.

In the Douglas Shire, north of Cairns, mayor Michael Kerr said he hadn’t heard from since Jasper crossed the Queensland coast. Others were only able to send a message or picture during the brief window they receive mobile reception amid continuing thunderstorms.

“Some of the photos are just horrendous. We have roads that have disappeared with 100m landslides and boulders the size of houses,” Mr Kerr said.

About 200 people have been forced to flee their homes after the Douglas Shire was hit by record flooding.

Some Daintree residents said they had been isolated for days already. Tony Bartels, who lives in Stewart Valley, told the ABC he and many others had been stranded since Jasper hit last Wednesday.

Camera IconCairns flood – Not even record-breaking floodwaters could keep a bunch of Far North Queenslanders from their local watering hole. Hotel Euramo, a small country pub near the banks of the Tully River, 155km south of Cairns, rebranded itself the “Euramo Yacht Club” on Sunday night. Extraordinary footage shared by the hotel shows dozens of patrons braving floodwaters in their dinghies to get a beer. One clip shows a dozen boats moored to the pub’s patio as the cheery patrons hoot and holla despite the flood carnage unfolding around them. Credit: Hotel Euramo / Facebook/Hotel Euramo / Facebook

“(We are) totally, totally underwater, it’s the highest anyone’s ever seen it over this end,” he said.

About 100km north the entire town of Wujal Wujal, whose population numbers 300, is set to be evacuated to Cooktown on Tuesday. However, Cooktown only has three days of food left and is running low on water.

Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott has pleaded for more food and supplies. “Wujal Wujal have copped it very badly,” he said. “Some of those poor people have been on the roof of their houses for two or three nights with no power, no communication, no food probably.

“We are ourselves low on food and supplies. We’ve still got enough tucker for another three days. We’ve also got water restrictions at the moment because our water treatment plant was flooded.”

Wujal Wujal deputy mayor Regan Kulka, who swam from his home through crocodile-infested water with his dog to get to safety, said the community was in dire need of help.

“Helping their neighbours out … we always have, but we need the outside help,” he told the ABC. “We haven’t heard anything to be honest.”