Residents of the far north Queensland town of Wujal Wujal will be evacuated this morning as flooding worsens in the wake of Cyclone Jasper.
Up to 400 people trapped in the town 340km north of Cairns will be airlifted by helicopter at 8am local time and taken to drier land in Cooktown.
Rescue efforts had to be halted late Monday evening due to bad weather.
Nine residents, including a seven-year-old child and several health workers, were rescued after being stranded on the roof of the Wujal Wujal Health Clinic.
“It now seems likely that we will have to evacuate the entire town of Wujal Wujal,” Queensland Premier Steven Miles told reporters on Monday.
“This rainfall is next level.”
It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology is criticized for failing to predict the severity of rain that fell on Cairns and other flooded areas.
On Saturday the Bureau forecast that Cairns would experience a fall of 30-130mm.
However, the city was drenched by more than double the forecast rainfall on Sunday, with a record-breaking 268mm.
Submerged vehicles are seen in floodwaters in the Cairns suburb of Aeroglen, Monday, December 18
Residents of the North Queensland town of Wujal Wujal will be evacuated on Tuesday
Up to 250 residents stuck in the water for more than 24 hours are airlifted by helicopter (photo: flood in Wujal Wujal)
Evacuees reunite with family members at the Barron River bridge in north Cairns
A main road has been divided in two due to heavy flooding in the aftermath of the former cyclone
Up to 12 locations in far north Queensland received record amounts of rainfall, with some areas receiving a year's worth of rain in one day.
Mossman South, an hour northwest of Cairns, received 1,935mm of rain in five days, while Black Mountain near Cooktown recorded 2,189mm.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the BOM 'didn't know the nature of the country'.
“If this is such a record, how could no one know this was going to happen? We need to have predictions that are closer to reality.'
However, Mr Miles defended the government agency, saying the big rainstorm could not have been predicted by the Bureau.
“They are doing the best they can,” the Queensland premier told reporters.
Emergency services have carried out more than 370 rapid water rescues and received more than 1,000 calls for help since the flooding began last week.
At least nine people were forced to climb onto roofs in Bloomfield and Degarra, where an 85-year-old man has been reported missing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government will provide “whatever it takes” to ensure residents are kept safe.
A submerged car is seen in the water in the Cairns suburb of Aeroglen
Pictured is an aerial view of the floodwaters at Lake Placid in Cairns
Flood damaged roads can be seen in the Cairns suburb of Caravonica
A search and rescue worker rescues a dog during an operation in far north Queensland
“A number of people have been isolated and have had to be rescued from their terrible circumstances, so our thoughts go out to all the people in those communities,” he said.
The Royal Australian Navy, operating from HMAS Cairns naval base, is supporting evacuations with the Australian Defense Force deployed to the region.
In welcome news for flood-weary residents, rain eased significantly overnight on Monday, with swollen rivers falling to moderate and minor flood levels.
Weather conditions will deteriorate as the former cyclone moves north.
Up to 14,000 people in 40 communities were still without power on Monday.
A severe weather warning remains in force for Port Douglas, Daintree village, Wujal Wujal, Cooktown and Hope Vale. A flood warning remains in force for the Mossman, Murray, Herbert, Tully, Johnstone and Mulgrave rivers.
Residents have been warned to be on the lookout for crocodiles that have washed up on residential streets in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Emergency services will focus their efforts on delivering food, fresh water and medicine to dozens of isolated communities in far north Queensland.