Cape York braces for flooding, Jasper may intensify

Eight days after hitting the Queensland coast, ex-tropical cyclone Jasper is still impacting the far north and may even intensify again on Christmas Day.

People were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge on rooftops after Jasper crossed the coast mid-last week, causing record rainfall and flooding.

About 35 communities are still isolated, with Kowanyama in the remote Cape York on high alert.

Major flooding is set to impact the community in the coming days as heavy rainfall from the weekend reaches the Mitchell River.

Vulnerable residents have already been evacuated.

“It looks like probably exceeding major flood levels in that area in the course of the next few days,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson told AAP.

Steven and Caroline Cheng in their home that was flooded in the Cairns suburb of Holloways Beach. (Brian Cassey/AAP PHOTOS)

Ex-cyclone Jasper is currently in the Gulf of Carpentaria, causing showers and thunderstorms across the Cape’s north.

Horn Island received 47mm and Coen 42mm of rain in the last 24 hours.

“The system is still hanging around. Potentially it may still have a bit more impact for us,” the bureau said.

There is a low probability – a five to 20 per cent chance – of Jasper redeveloping into a cyclone by Christmas if it tracks northwest to the Coral Sea, the bureau said.

“But there is quite a bit of uncertainty in terms of movement. The system could move west and away,” the bureau said.

In the meantime, Kowanyama has stocked up on food and fuel as it braces for major flooding.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the community was well prepared but they would evacuate the whole town if necessary.

“The advice of the Bureau of Meteorology and the advice from the mayor and the local disaster coordination group is that won’t be necessary but that’s what I’ve planned for,” he said.

About 200 people from Wujal Wujal north of Cairns have already been evacuated to Cooktown by two Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopters.

Emergency crews were set to check on all 35 isolated communities by Wednesday to ensure they were safe and had supplies.

There have been no reports of serious injuries or loss of life but there are grave concerns for an 85-year-old man who has been missing since Sunday at Degarra, near Wujal Wujal.

State and federal government financial assistance has been made available to flood-hit areas while a recovery appeal has also been launched.

The Queensland government kick-started the appeal with a $1.5 million donation.

The clean-up has begun in the Cairns region and beyond but some areas are set to take months to recover due to infrastructure damage.

Residents of flooded houses have been piling their ruined furniture and belongings out the front of their homes to be carted away.

Cairns residents have begun to clean up after major flooding. (Brian Cassey/AAP PHOTOS)

“We face a really massive clean-up exercise here in far north Queensland,” Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

“The water, the mud, the smell, it’s going to take a lot of work from a lot of people.”

At one stage more than 40,000 people were without power but the Queensland government has vowed to have every household restored by Christmas Eve.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are set to visit flood-hit areas on Friday.