Towns Cut Off and Supplies Running Low as Rain Subsides in Queensland Floods

Major flooding in northern Australia caused by ex-tropical cyclone Jasper has started to subside, but many towns remain cut off and supplies are running low. The extreme weather has dumped a year's worth of rain on parts of Queensland, causing rivers to swell, homes to flood, and roads and power to be cut off. Rescue efforts have been hindered by the closure of Cairns Airport, where planes were submerged. Wujal Wujal, a small community with up to 300 people, is a major concern as residents are without electricity, supplies, and are surrounded by large crocodiles. Despite some locals saying they were not sufficiently warned about the extent of the rain, state officials defend that the weather tracking systems could not have predicted such a disaster. The cost of this disaster is estimated to exceed A$1bn ($670m).