Rescue for Stricken Town as High Cost of Cyclone Mounts

Up to 120 people are expected to be evacuated on Dec. 19 with operations expected to continue into Dec. 20 if necessary.

A bar restaurant is seen past fallen branches in Palm Cove as Cyclone Jasper approaches landfall near Cairns in far north Queensland on December 13, 2023. A tropical cyclone was building strength as it rolled towards northeastern Australia on 13 December, with authorities warning "life-threatening" floods could swamp coastal regions for days. Photo by Brian Cassey/AFP via Getty Images

The evacuation of a community escaping floodwaters in far north Queensland continues as authorities switch from response to recovery after days of record rainfall and damaging winds.

Some areas of far north Queensland have had 2000 millimetres of rain during the past seven days as ex-tropical cyclone Jasper left residents stranded.