Locals pull cows from water after floods swept several away
Cattle property owners have been hard hit by heavy rainfall and flooding in the Far North with livestock spotted floating down the Barron River. Watch the videos.
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Cattle property owners have been hard hit by heavy rainfall and flooding in the Far North with livestock spotted floating down the Barron River.
Videos of live cattle floating in the Barron River circulated widely on popular social media pages on Sunday.
The Cairns Post has sought comment from the video originators.
But video emerged shortly after of good Samaritans pulling at least one cow from the water.
Former Barron River MP Michael Trout, who has raised cattle for many years, said the scenes were reminiscent of the wild March 1997 floods that swept away cattle and spat them out to sea as far as Green Island.
“I’ve never seen it like this before, this is more serious than the ‘97 floods,” Mr Trout said.
“Tinaroo Dam will overflow soon, too. That will put more pressure on properties.
“I feel sorry for the cattle property owners. You get really close to your cattle. It would be devastating for them.
“You think things are under control, but the water rises so quickly.”
The Barron River is predicted to peak about 1pm on Sunday.
The Bureau of Meteorology have warned the river was at 13.25m at Myola and rising quickly.
“This floodwater will reach Cairns where major flood level(s) exceeding the 1977 flood are expected to occur during Sunday afternoon,” a Bureau alert stated.
“Rainfall totals up to 513mm have been recorded over the Barron River catchment in the 24 hours to 9.00am Sunday. Since 9.00am Sunday 215mm has been observed at Myola and 70mm to 100mm across the catchment.
“Very heavy rainfall with locally intense falls are forecast to continue for the remainder of Sunday.”
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Originally published as Locals pull cows from water after floods swept several away
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