The military has been deployed in Queensland, in the northeast part of Australia, and the reason is not martial. The reason is the flood, which has been termed as “once-in-a-century”, and the saltwater crocodiles that it has brought along. There have been reports of many residents sighting the reptilian predators in residential areas and on dead-end streets since there are no outlets for both the water and the creatures.

A record 1.16 metres (3.8 ft) of rain has lashed the Townsville area over the past seven days, with another 100 millimetres expected to be dumped over the area on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Apart from homes, schools and airports too have been inundated by the floodwaters, forcing hundreds of residents to leave their homes and bringing the crocodiles on to the streets.

Emergency services have been receiving incessant disaster and rescue calls made overnight from around the city of Townsville where evacuation centres have been filled up.

Townsville is a major port in northern Australia and one of the country’s top exporters of copper, zinc, lead, and sugar.

“Once in a century event happening here. I have never seen the likes of this before,” Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in an interview to Australian Broadcasting Corp TV.

Ignazia Graziella Grace, nee Grace Grace, Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations, has said state schools in Townsville and surrounding areas will remain closed on February 5. Taking to Twitter, she shared a link to check up-to-date information.

TSV FLOOD UPDATE:
State schools in Townsville and surrounding areas will remain closed tomorrow (5 February). Keep checking https://t.co/MFbBJwF5C3 for the most up to date information @QLDEducation

— Grace Grace MP (@gracextwo) February 4, 2019

The Queensland Police tweeted: “Schools from Halixfax, Townsvile & Giru that were closed on Friday will remain closed tomorrow. Further information about other schools will be communicated as necessary. @QLDEducation #bigwet”

Schools from Halixfax, Townsvile & Giru that were closed on Friday will remain closed tomorrow. Further information about other schools will be communicated as necessary. @QLDEducation #bigwet

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) February 3, 2019

Major flood warnings have been posted for several rivers.

Australia’s tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the monsoon season, but the recent downpour has far exceeded normal levels.

Around 400 Townsville residents have sought shelter at nearby Lavarak military barracks and the Red Cross is also assisting with the response and recovery effort.

“Small boats worked through the night to evacuate members of the community,” an AFP report local commander Brigadier Scott Winter as saying.