Residents in Australia’s Northern Territory are warned of crocodiles in floodwaters after over 1,000 people were evacuated due to severe flooding.

KATHERINE: Police in Australia’s Northern Territory have issued a stark warning about crocodiles in widespread floodwaters after evacuating more than a thousand people.

The territory endured heavy rains over the weekend, with the town of Katherine experiencing its worst flooding since 1998.

Helicopters and aircraft were deployed on Saturday to evacuate residents from communities in remote areas across the vast and sparsely populated territory.

Police incident control acting commander Shaun Gill told journalists that the scale of the flooding was immense, stating “it doesn’t get much bigger”.

He confirmed that at least 90 homes were without power and delivered a clear warning for residents to avoid the water.

“There is crocs absolutely everywhere. Please don’t go in the water. The message is quite clear,” Gill said.

He elaborated that people should not swim for two critical reasons, citing the fast-flowing river and the heightened activity of crocodiles in such conditions.

Assistant police commissioner Travis Wurst also urged residents of Katherine not to “do something silly” and jump in the water.

Wurst warned of “crocodiles and other things that will make your life difficult” within the flooded areas.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said a number of schools would remain closed into Monday due to the ongoing flooding.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 saltwater and freshwater crocodiles live across northern Australia.

The Northern Territory is one of the country’s most sparsely populated areas and is frequently hit with extreme weather events.

Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones.

 The Sun Malaysia