Australia
Tropical Storm “Jasper” makes landfall in Queensland
Flooding caused by Cyclone Jasper near the Barron River in Cairns. photo
© Joshua Prieto/AAP/dpa
Storm “Jasper” has lost some of its force on Australia’s northeast coast, but continues to blanket the region with heavy rain. Numerous people have already found themselves in distress in the floods, and there is no relief in sight for the situation.
Queensland’s Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles expressed deep concern about the situation in Australia’s far north in view of the persistent rain and spoke of a “serious weather emergency”. According to Miles, more than 10,000 people were without power on Sunday afternoon (local time). Some residents were also trapped in their homes by the storm.
According to Australian media, a ten-year-old girl who was struck by lightning in the town of Beerwah and was being treated at the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane was still in danger of death, according to Australian media.
Emergency services warn of dangerous floods
Scores of people had to be rescued after attempting to drive through flooded roads, according to the Queensland Fire Service. “We cannot emphasize more clearly how dangerous this is, not only for those who intentionally enter the water, but also for our emergency responders who risk their lives to save you,” the fire department wrote on Platform X.
Tropical cyclone “Jasper” reached Australia’s northeast coast on Wednesday. Over the course of the storm, which was initially classified as a level two cyclone, it weakened to a low level that continues to blanket the region with record-breaking rainfall. The affected region is rather sparsely populated; in the tropical regions south of the equator it is now the summer rainy season.
Authorities warned that heavy rain would continue for at least another day and the “life-threatening event” would continue.