‘A difficult time’, says Australia PM as rescue efforts ramp up after Queensland floods

Residents in Australia’s northeast on Tuesday (December 19) took stock of flood damages from former Tropical Cyclone Jasper and authorities accelerated efforts to rescue people stranded in remote towns as rivers stayed above dangerous levels.

Speaking at a news conference in Brisbane, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese called it a “difficult time” for flood victims, while Queensland premier Steven Miles said early damage assessments were underway.

Jasper made landfall last week as a category 2 storm, and was soon downgraded to a tropical low but the system moved slowly, dumping months worth of rain over four days, cutting off entire towns, and inundating homes, roads and farms.

Conditions have since eased with military personnel joining the state’s emergency crews on evacuations and relief efforts.