Crocodiles found their way into the residential areas of a town of around 10,000 people after flooding. Then, after the water subsided, a cyclone threat emerged.
This town is the municipality of Katherine in Australia’s Northern Territory, where residents were warned earlier this month to be extra careful as danger loomed.
When Katherine town began flooding, crocodiles found their way into the streets and other areas where people frequent. Some even found recreation in the AFL football field.
Seriousness of the Katherine Floods
Katherine town sits along the Katherine River; therefore, residents have learnt to live through the seasonal floods while going about their daily routine. They are normally prepared for the wet season that begins in November and ends in April.
However, 2026 has been different for the town, which is home to one of the country’s most valued Defense sites, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Tindal base. The monsoon rains began seriously pounding in March, filling the River Katherine and causing record-breaking floods. At one point, the flood level reached 19.2 meters (63 feet).
The last such experience was in 1998, though it was worse then; the worst in a century. Floodwaters peaked at 20.4 meters, almost submerging the entire town.
This time, in addition to damaging the town’s sewerage system and other public and private infrastructure, the floods have disrupted the power supply and damaged roads and other forms of communication.
New Flood Warnings
By the middle of this month, the floods in Katherine had significantly subsided, and recovery efforts had been ongoing.
However, the river has resumed rising due to a cyclone from Queensland, and Katherine residents have been warned to expect more flooding. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned that the level of River Katherine is likely to reach 17.5 meters high by the end of Wednesday, 25th March.
Emergency teams from the Northern Territory are exhausted, but fortunately, teams from Australia’s south and other interstate volunteers have come in to assist. Authorities do not anticipate any further damage, as reports from BOM indicate that the fresh flooding should subside in a day or two.