One person has died and thousands of others are under evacuation orders in Australia’s northeast after intense rain triggered dangerous flash floods that have inundated homes and businesses.

More extreme rainfall and higher frequencies of flooded rivers and flash floods around the world have a clear link to climate change and ongoing global heating.

Flood-hit Townsville, a coastal tourist destination near the Great Barrier Reef, was declared a “black zone”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Deadly floodwaters triggered by record rainfall in Australia’s northeast rose for a third day Monday as authorities warned flood-stricken communities to brace themselves for further destruction.

Residents in greater Townsville have been warned to leave by midday on Sunday as north Queensland continues to be smashed with rain.