With total rainfall of 425 millimetres in just 24 hours, Australia's summer of crazy weather continues. Hundreds of homes are without power in Queensland's Daintree area. Farmers were stranded and cattle washed offshore as heavy rain pelted northeast Australia Sunday, with one major river breaking 118-year-old floodwater records.
The levels reached 12.6 metres, beating a mark set in 1901. The Bureau of Meteorology and local authorities have warned that some residents in remote areas could be cut off for days. The heritage listed Daintree Rainforest area will brace for more rains for rest of the week.
Residents in this tropical region of Australia are used to a heavy wet season, but the recent deluge has cut off a ferry line that is the only means of accessing some areas.
Port Douglas Shire Council Mayor, Julia Leu, said that those who are still in their homes could be cut off for two days, with no power or phone service. The conditions have caused havoc for farmers and livestock.
In the meantime, much of the country has been experiencing a brutal heatwave with record temperatures and bushfires. Quickly changing weather and wind conditions could make the fires to be a continued threat to homes and livestock, according to local authorities.
According to a local daily, caretakers of the "Tranquility" farm were stuck with their two children for 16 hours until the State Emergency Services helicopter could rescue them.
Residents rushed to a downstream beach to help a handful of livestock washed away by floodwaters.
A number of cows could be seen out at sea or struggling to find their feet on the soft sand of the coastline.
