Communities isolated after record-breaking rainfall

Severe weather warnings are in place for already drenched areas north of Cairns hampering efforts to rescue stranded residents from rising floodwaters. Communities from Hope Vale to Port Douglas could be soaked by 300 millimetres of rain. In Cairns, rain has finally started to ease, but it could be short-lived. The city is at risk of running out of clean, filtered water with their drinking supply now 'critically low'.