Residents in Townsville, Australia, have been urged not to walk or play in floodwaters following multiple crocodile sightings in the city which experienced "once-in-a-century floods" over the weekend.
Police have ordered locals to avoid walking in flood water in Townsville, Queensland after a huge crocodile was pictured in the driveway of a house.
Townsville Police have confirmed multiple sightings of crocodiles in flood waters across the town that has been hit by "flood of the century."
Thousands of homes are currently underwater after authorities were forced to fully open the city's floodgates last night due to unprecedented levels of rain that fell.
Police in Townsville issued a warning to residents after hearing several reports of children playing in the flood waters and as well as removing road closure signs.
"Playing in flood waters is extremely dangerous, not just because of the unpredictable nature of the water itself, but also because what may lie beneath the surface. Crocodiles have been reported in flood waters in parts of Townsville, and there can also be snakes and other wildlife presents."
"Removing road closure signs is also extremely dangerous for people driving around on the island – and doing so could lead to a tragedy," Townsville police said in a statement.
The floods in northeast Australia have turned streets into rivers and forced thousands to abandon their homes. Australia's tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the monsoon season at this time of the year, but the recent downpour has far exceeded normal levels.
The Australian Defence Forces delivered 70,000 sandbags, deployed amphibious cargo vehicles and helped take residents from their rooftops as monsoon rains drenched the northern state of Queensland.
Australia's tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the monsoon season, but the recent downpour has seen some areas get a year's worth of rainfall in a week.
The authorities were forced to open floodgates of a major dam late yesterday, unleashing what they called "dangerous and high velocity flows."
In hard-hit Townsville, cars were mostly submerged, with picket fences barely poking through waist-deep flood waters.
Emergency workers and the army said they had received more than 1,000 calls for help. They've been using boats and helicopters to move people to higher ground.
"Crocodiles may be seen crossing roads, and when flooding recedes, crocodiles can turn up in unusual places such as farm dams or waterholes," said Queensland's Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch.
"Similarly, snakes are very good swimmers and they too may turn up unexpectedly."
One local resident, Erin Hahn, shared pictures of a crocodile sitting in shallow water at the end of her father's drive. Another was photographed climbing a tree in the floodwater.