Townsville flooding: boats, helicopters and garbage trucks used in rescues – as it happened

Thousands of homes at risk as Townsville braces for 'once-in-a-century' flood. This blog is now closed

• Australian authorities deliberately flood 2,000 Queensland homes after record downpours

6.48am GMT

Thanks for following today's live coverage of the Townsville flood crisis.

6.12am GMT

The Queensland environment minister, Leeanne Enoch, has issued a statement warning locals to beware of crocodiles in flood waters.

"Crocodiles prefer calmer waters and they may move around in search of a quiet place to wait for flood waters to recede," Enoch said.