Ferry crossing in far-north Queensland closed after 500mm of rain in 24 hours pushed river to highest level in 118 years

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Hundreds of people remain cut off after a deluge pushed far-north Queensland’s Daintree River to a record level.

The river peaked at close to 12.6 metres on Saturday night, breaking a record that stood for 118 years.

Ferry infrastructure was severely damaged and authorities said the crossing could be out for two days.

A herd of cows was washed out to sea from upper Daintree village, the ABC reported. Some were found roaming the beach, but others were found washed up, despite efforts to rescue them by people in tinnies and on jetskis.

Douglas Shire (@DouglasShireC) Record major flooding in the Daintree River has made the Daintree Ferry inaccessible. @ABCemergency @ABCemergency @TheCairnsPost @pdmgazette @BOM_Qld @ozcyclonechaser @PortDouglas_Aus pic.twitter.com/OejRbIXyBa

Almost 500mm of rain fell on the river in 24 hours – 300mm of that in just six hours.

Water charging down the crocodile-infested river dislodged a ticket booth, ripped a public pontoon from its footings and swept away a water tank at a block of toilets.

“This is a difficult situation ... we ask everyone to be patient as Douglas Shire recovers from widespread monsoonal rain and the biggest Daintree River flood in 118 years,” the mayor, Julia Leu, said.

Shelley Lloyd (@shelleymlloyd) The Barron River in Qld’s far north ... just before Christmas and yesterday after the monsoonal deluge. @abcnews @abcbrisbane @ABCemergency (2nd pic Amy Waddell) pic.twitter.com/QD05wg45SF

On Monday morning the monsoon trough that swamped the Daintree area was tracking south, with communities from Ingham to just north of Mackay braced for possible flooding.

There was a severe weather warning for coastal and inland communities that could see six-hour rainfall totals of up to 150mm.

A flood watch was in place for catchments from Innisfail to Proserpine.