‘Heartbreaking’ Floods Swamp Australia’s Cattle Country

AFP | Sydney, Australia
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Severe inland flooding has devastated Australia’s cattle country, drowning entire herds and submerging an area as vast as France in Queensland’s outback, officials said yesterday.

Key Details:

• Livestock Losses: More than 100,000 cattle, sheep, goats, and horses have either drowned, gone missing, or been swept away by the floods.

• Massive Flooding: Swollen rivers burst their banks after unusually heavy rainfall last week, submerging 500,000 square kilometers (190,000 square miles) of western Queensland.

• Extreme Rainfall: Some areas received 500mm (20 inches) of rain in just a week—equivalent to their yearly average.

• More Rain Incoming: Meteorologists warn of further rainfall, worsening the crisis.

‘Devastating’ Impact on Ranchers

Queensland’s Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett expressed shock at the scale of destruction:

“These are only early indications of the magnitude of this disaster… we expect losses to keep rising as floodwaters recede.”

Industry body AgForce reports that some ranches may have lost nearly 100% of their herds, dealing a massive blow to the country’s cattle industry.

Emergency Response & Survival Efforts

Airlifts for Stranded Animals:

• Queensland’s fire department is dropping fodder via helicopters to help starving livestock stranded on small patches of dry land.

Roads & Towns Cut Off:

• 4,000 km (2,500 miles) of roads flooded, isolating communities.

• The remote town of Thargomindah is encircled by rising waters, forcing emergency efforts to secure food, fuel, and evacuation points.

Climate Change & The Future

Experts warn that climate change is worsening natural disasters, making extreme weather events like floods, bushfires, and cyclones more frequent and intense.