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Jasper’s Fury: Far North Queensland reels from widespread flooding

Olivia Harris
1 min read·December 19, 2023 - 4:23PM
News Corp Australia Network

Homes have been inundated with water, livestock swept away, planes submerged and hundreds of rescues have been carried out across Far North Queensland as parts of the region record their words floods in over a century. We take a look at the ways in which a relatively low-level category tropical cyclone had such a devastating effect on the region and its residents.

 

Mossman local Harry Cobb stands outside his father’s home, flooded in the aftermath of the recent cyclone. The waters receded briefly before rising again and engulfing the property. Picture: Harry Cobb
Mossman local Harry Cobb stands outside his father’s home, flooded in the aftermath of the recent cyclone. The waters receded briefly before rising again and engulfing the property. Picture: Harry Cobb

 

Evacuees reunite with family members at the Barron River Bridge after being rescued by boats. Picture: Brian Cassey/NCA Newswire
Evacuees reunite with family members at the Barron River Bridge after being rescued by boats. Picture: Brian Cassey/NCA Newswire

 

People have been warned to stay out of floodwaters after a 2.5m saltwater croc was caught in Ingham’s Palm Creek. Picture: Evan Morgan
People have been warned to stay out of floodwaters after a 2.5m saltwater croc was caught in Ingham’s Palm Creek. Picture: Evan Morgan

 

Shae Curr-Parkes nervously awaits news from family members stranded by floodwaters at Holloways Beach. Picture: Brendan Radke
Shae Curr-Parkes nervously awaits news from family members stranded by floodwaters at Holloways Beach. Picture: Brendan Radke

 

Tracy Walker and children, Tyler and Roman, at Machans Beach Community Hall, seek refuge after their home was inundated by floodwaters. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Tracy Walker and children, Tyler and Roman, at Machans Beach Community Hall, seek refuge after their home was inundated by floodwaters. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

SES boats muster in Holloways Beach, ready for emergency response amid rising floodwaters. Picture: Peter Carruthers
SES boats muster in Holloways Beach, ready for emergency response amid rising floodwaters. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

Jutta McKenzie comforts a struggling calf on the Barron River Bridge. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Jutta McKenzie comforts a struggling calf on the Barron River Bridge. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

Locals get a snap of the shocking road damage along Casuriana St in Holloways Beach. Picture: Cairns Regional Council
Locals get a snap of the shocking road damage along Casuriana St in Holloways Beach. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

 

A house on Oleander St in Holloways Beach has been largely destroyed by a fast-moving torrent of water. Picture: Peter Carruthers
A house on Oleander St in Holloways Beach has been largely destroyed by a fast-moving torrent of water. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

78-year-old Dianna Quick is assisted by a volunteer to be reunited with her granddaughter after spending the night in floodwaters in her Holloways Beach home. Read the full story here . Picture: Brendan Radke
78-year-old Dianna Quick is assisted by a volunteer to be reunited with her granddaughter after spending the night in floodwaters in her Holloways Beach home. Read the full story here . Picture: Brendan Radke

 

Garry Henry sweeps floodwater out from a house at Caravonica, Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke
Garry Henry sweeps floodwater out from a house at Caravonica, Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

 

A woman turns to her puppy for comfort after being evacuated from her home in the northern suburbs of Cairns. Picture: Brian Cassey/AFP
A woman turns to her puppy for comfort after being evacuated from her home in the northern suburbs of Cairns. Picture: Brian Cassey/AFP

 

An aerial view shows a submerged runway at Cairns Airport, as travel in the region grinds to a halt. Picture: Liv Cole
An aerial view shows a submerged runway at Cairns Airport, as travel in the region grinds to a halt. Picture: Liv Cole

 

A close up shows aircraft marooned in the deluge. Picture: Hinterland Aviation
A close up shows aircraft marooned in the deluge. Picture: Hinterland Aviation

 

William Wilson hugs his son as they are reunited after evacuations in the area. Picture: Brendan Radke
William Wilson hugs his son as they are reunited after evacuations in the area. Picture: Brendan Radke

 

A landslide blocks the road at Rex Lookout, north of Wangetti Beach. Picture: Supplied
A landslide blocks the road at Rex Lookout, north of Wangetti Beach. Picture: Supplied

 

Ellen Finch of Holloway’s Beach starts the clean up around her Christmas decorations after floodwaters inundated her home. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Ellen Finch of Holloway’s Beach starts the clean up around her Christmas decorations after floodwaters inundated her home. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

Defying evacuation orders, locals band together to rescue a cow from the rising floodwaters of the Barron River. Picture: Supplied
Defying evacuation orders, locals band together to rescue a cow from the rising floodwaters of the Barron River. Picture: Supplied

 

Barron River’s hydro-electric plant flows with a strong force. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Barron River’s hydro-electric plant flows with a strong force. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

Stranded on their rooftop in Holloway’s Beach, a family waits for rescue after spending a day isolated on their kitchen island bench. Picture: Supplied
Stranded on their rooftop in Holloway’s Beach, a family waits for rescue after spending a day isolated on their kitchen island bench. Picture: Supplied

 

The Palmerston Highway cracks following heavy rain and flooding in the days after Cyclone Jasper. Picture: TMR
The Palmerston Highway cracks following heavy rain and flooding in the days after Cyclone Jasper. Picture: TMR

 

A home in Holloways Beach sits in floodwaters. Picture: Supplied
A home in Holloways Beach sits in floodwaters. Picture: Supplied

 

Vicky Mills clears out her house after it was inundated with floodwater from the Barron River. Picture: Brendan Radke
Vicky Mills clears out her house after it was inundated with floodwater from the Barron River. Picture: Brendan Radke

 

The Barron River threatens to cut off roads as floodwaters surge. Picture: Steve Cooke
The Barron River threatens to cut off roads as floodwaters surge. Picture: Steve Cooke

 

A family evacuates from Holloway Beach with their pets, who seem none the wiser. Picture: Brian Cassey/NCA Newswire
A family evacuates from Holloway Beach with their pets, who seem none the wiser. Picture: Brian Cassey/NCA Newswire

 

MP Bob Katter surveys the areas around Far North Queensland. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm.
MP Bob Katter surveys the areas around Far North Queensland. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm.

 

A wave crashes into the lifeguard booth at Trinity Beach. Picture: Patricia Breuil
A wave crashes into the lifeguard booth at Trinity Beach. Picture: Patricia Breuil

 

Mick Burford of Mossman rescues a cockatoo injured by Cyclone Jasper’s strong winds. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Mick Burford of Mossman rescues a cockatoo injured by Cyclone Jasper’s strong winds. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

Royal Australian Navy personnel work with civilian emergency services to evacuate members of the public from Holloways Beach. Picture: Supplied
Royal Australian Navy personnel work with civilian emergency services to evacuate members of the public from Holloways Beach. Picture: Supplied

 

The Euramo Hotel is right between the Tully and Murray rivers, and is renowned for flooding. Locals take a boat directly from home to the hotel for a beer when the water rises. Picture: Supplied
The Euramo Hotel is right between the Tully and Murray rivers, and is renowned for flooding. Locals take a boat directly from home to the hotel for a beer when the water rises. Picture: Supplied

 

SES volunteer George Dellicompagni clears a fallen tree branch from Port Douglas Road. Picture: Peter Carruthers
SES volunteer George Dellicompagni clears a fallen tree branch from Port Douglas Road. Picture: Peter Carruthers

 

A composite image shows the progression of Cyclone Jasper and its aftermath still impacting the region. Picture: NASA Worldview
A composite image shows the progression of Cyclone Jasper and its aftermath still impacting the region. Picture: NASA Worldview

 

SES crews were called to help Batreach Kuranda wildlife sanctuary after it was damaged during Cyclone Jasper. All animals - including 13 gliders, two possums and 32 flying foxes - are all safe and secure. Picture: Supplied
SES crews were called to help Batreach Kuranda wildlife sanctuary after it was damaged during Cyclone Jasper. All animals - including 13 gliders, two possums and 32 flying foxes - are all safe and secure. Picture: Supplied

 

Floodwaters have inundated homes and businesses and levels continue to rise around the Far North. Picture: Dan Bateman
Floodwaters have inundated homes and businesses and levels continue to rise around the Far North. Picture: Dan Bateman

 

Port Douglas marina empties as Cyclone Jasper approaches, with tourism and fishing vessels seeking refuge in Dickson Inlet’s mangroves. Picture: Port Douglas Boat Hire
Port Douglas marina empties as Cyclone Jasper approaches, with tourism and fishing vessels seeking refuge in Dickson Inlet’s mangroves. Picture: Port Douglas Boat Hire

 

A woman and her dog take to a boat in the Daintree region. Picture: Supplied
A woman and her dog take to a boat in the Daintree region. Picture: Supplied

 

a Mossman family resorts to their trusty tinnie to navigate the rising floodwaters. Picture: Supplied
a Mossman family resorts to their trusty tinnie to navigate the rising floodwaters. Picture: Supplied

 

A large fig tree is uprooted and felled on the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke
A large fig tree is uprooted and felled on the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

 

Mossman River swells beyond its limits, breaching the banks at Foxton Bridge. Picture: Liam Kidston
Mossman River swells beyond its limits, breaching the banks at Foxton Bridge. Picture: Liam Kidston

 

An aerial view shows the scale of deluge from Barron to Thomatis Creek. Picture: Liv Cole
An aerial view shows the scale of deluge from Barron to Thomatis Creek. Picture: Liv Cole

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/jaspers-fury-tropical-cyclone-devastates-far-north-queensland/news-story/aae32e5e42e3363a4e6cee162692c1e6