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Queensland, Australia, particularly the far north, has experienced near-record levels of rainfall on December 17 2023, causing life-threatening flooding. The key points of the situation include: 1. **Severe Flooding from Heavy Rainfall:** Ex-tropical cyclone Jasper has led to record flooding in the region, especially around Cairns. 2. **Major Flood Levels:** Areas in far north Queensland have seen more than a meter of rain, breaking records set in 1977. Cairns is particularly affected, with the airport closed due to flooding. 3. **Emergency Warnings Issued:** Flood warnings have been issued for Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, and parts of Trinity Park. Residents have been urged to take shelter, and hundreds of homes are flooded. 4. **Rescue and Evacuation Efforts:** The navy and various emergency services have been deployed for rescue operations, including in places like Mossman, Douglas, Gordonvale, and Innisfail. 5. **Transport and Infrastructure Disruption:** Key roads, including the Bruce Highway, have been cut off, and several bridges are damaged beyond use. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that more flooding is likely with further rainfall. 6. **Residents Forced onto Roofs:** Some residents have climbed onto their roofs to escape the floodwaters, awaiting rescue. 7. **Cairns Airport Shutdown:** The airport shut down on Sunday afternoon, with floodwaters predicted to exceed 3.8 meters. The Cairns region faces water usage restrictions due to treatment plant issues The situation remains critical, with ongoing rain and flooding expected to continue into Tuesday.
