Hundreds of people have evacuated their homes, businesses have been inundated and wildlife are fleeing to safety, as a once-in-a-century flood smashes Western Australia's Kimberley region.
Fitzroy Crossing, a town about five hours east of Broome, and dozens of Indigenous communities have been hit by the record flooding, as ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie passes through the region.
Only a few of the town's streets remain above the murky floodwaters and WA's only road transport route to the north of the state is likely to be cut for months after a major bridge suffered significant damage.
"People are suffering... people are scared," said WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson.
Watch: James Ashley from the Bureau of Meteorology addresses the media. Post continues below.
The Fitzroy River peaked late Wednesday, reaching a record 15.8 metres.
About 60,000 cubic metres of water per second has been flowing down the swollen waterway, which snakes its way across the Kimberley to the coast at Derby, north of Broome.
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