Extraordinary photo shows Cairns Airport underwater

Cairns Airport has been forced to close due to severe flooding, with extraordinary footage showing several planes on the runway submerged in a rising tide.

Christmas travel plans have been thrown into chaos, with all activities halted at 2.20pm on Sunday, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper continues to wreak havoc on Far North Queensland, amid fresh warnings for residents to stay away from rising waters and to move to higher areas.

“This decision has been made as we continue to work closely with authorities and stakeholders, including our airline partners,” Cairns Airport said in a statement.

‘Please contact your airline directly for information on specific flights. After the review, a new update will be published at 6 p.m.’

It comes amid a desperate wait to rescue two men stranded on the roof of a remote Cape York estate.

The pair were forced to climb to the top of their ranger station near Battlecamp Rd in Melsonby Homestead, northwest of Cooktown, on Saturday evening after heavy rain.

Emergency services were called to the men’s location around 11:40 PM when a bystander reported the situation.

The duo has no mobile reception and communicates via WiFi with a friend, the police informant.

‘Last night it was too dangerous to get the helicopter out. The plan was to get there this morning, but the helicopter cannot deploy due to dangerous weather. The earliest crews could be deployed around midday,” a police spokesperson told police Cairns Post.

“They’re still on the roof and have been since 3am.”

“(It has been reported) that they have no shelter, no water and no food.”

The urgency of the situation was escalated at 9:55 a.m. Sunday morning due to an increased threat to the men’s lives.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services confirmed they are aware of the situation and are preparing water rescue crews and the helicopter pilot to locate and rescue the men.

The wild weather and ‘life-threatening’ flooding is not expected to ease in the coming days as multiple rescues and evacuations were carried out this weekend, mainly at Mossman, Douglas, Gordonvale and Innisfail.

Former Tropical Cyclone Jasper is lashing the north of the state, with areas between Daintree and Ingham receiving more than 450mm of rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology said more than 20 rain gauges in the region had recorded more than a meter of rainfall, with water levels expected to break 1977 records.

“It is important to note in this scenario that flash flooding and river flooding can change very quickly,” meteorologist Laura Boekel said on Sunday.

“This is a rapidly evolving situation,” she warned.

There was a ‘very high probability’ that conditions would not ease until Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency warnings are in place across the state as thousands of people are urged to move to higher ground.

People at the Blue Water Estate in Trinity Park were urged to leave the area immediately at 1pm due to dangerous flooding and to seek shelter on a high ground.

Roads across the Cairns area were closed due to “life-threatening flash flooding”, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

Houses, buildings, roads and bridges are flooded, while authorities also warned of landslides and the risk that vital services such as power, water, sewage and telephone services could be cut off.

Residents have been urged not to drive, to shelter indoors and to stay informed as people in the Barron catchment and Machans Beach are particularly at risk.

Elsewhere in far north Queensland, major flood warnings have been issued, including for the Daintree River, Mossman River, Herbert River, Johnstone River Catchment, Mulgrave River, Russel River and Tully River.

Cairns Airport was also closed on Sunday afternoon as flood heights were forecast to exceed 3.8 metres.

“A further assessment will take place at 6 p.m.,” the airport said in a statement.

“This decision has been made as we continue to work closely with authorities and stakeholders, including our airline partners.”

Jasper has now bottomed out in the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria after dumping as much as a meter of rain on parts of the state over a four-day period.

The Category 2 system hit the coast north of Cairns on Wednesday night before weakening to a tropical low.

The rain hovered over far north Queensland, including the Cape York Peninsula, on Saturday, bringing more rain to already soaked areas.

The system is moving slowly westward and there is a chance Jasper will redevelop into a cyclone from Wednesday as it moves north, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines said.

Emergency services are urging people to take care in wet weather and prepare their property. The SES reports it has responded to hundreds of requests for help.

Emergency support for people affected by Jasper has been expanded to include Yarrabah Council, where up to $900 is available to cover the cost of essentials for extended families and additional assistance to reconnect with utilities.