Crocs and snakes wash ashore in devastating Townsville floods
Thousands of Townsville residents have been forced to evacuate their homes with fears of tornadoes and more rain to hit over the next week.
Streets have been turned into rivers in Queensland, with many people having to seek safety on the roof of their homes that have been flooded.
Properties are continuing to be threatened as the monsoon that began tearing through the far North Queensland a week ago continues to rage on.
Residents in the area were also being encouraged to stay out of flood waters in the streets due to recent crocodile and snake sightings around the area.
One large croc washed up onto the driveway of an unsuspecting home residential neighbourhood in Mundingburra on Sunday night.
“Please stay out of the water, it is just not safe,” a concerned Facebook user responded to the picture of the crawling critter.
In just seven days of intense flooding, a staggering 1012mm of rain has hit North Queensland, obscuring the previous record of 925mm in 1953.
Power to thousands of homes in Townsville has been cut and the main airport closed due to “safety reasons". The Townsville Airport is currently advising people to not travel to the airport as the terminal remains shut.
Hundreds of people who have fled from their homes that are waist-deep and chest-deep in floodwater are taking refuge in evacuation centres, and with family and friends staying on higher ground.
The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged people to stay out of the floodwaters and keep off roads where possible.
She described it as a “once in a lifetime” event, also crediting the army and emergency services who worked through the night to ensure the loss of life was prevented.
Do you know anyone affected by the devastating Townsville floods? Let us know in the comments below.