Hundreds of residents from remote Northern Territory communities were evacuated by air on Saturday as major flooding swept through the Top End. The evacuation, involving more than 600 people, was prompted by rising water levels in the Katherine and Daly rivers, which have reached record levels and cut off road access to several communities.

Evacuation Efforts Intensify

Northern Territory police incident control commander Shaun Gill said that communities were facing a ‘major flood level event,’ with six aircraft deployed to evacuate approximately 200 people from the remote community of Palumpa. Road access to Palumpa had been cut off by floodwaters, leaving air evacuation the only option.

Gill also confirmed that a large-scale helicopter retrieval of 400 people from the community in Daly River (Nauiyu) was under way. The Daly River was expected to reach major flood levels by Saturday afternoon, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

The Katherine River at Katherine Bridge reached 18.61 metres just after 10 a.m. and was still rising. BoM meteorologist Shenagh Gamble said the river was predicted to reach 19.2 metres on Saturday afternoon, with further rises possible as upstream flows arrived.

Gamble added that once the river levels peaked, they would remain above major flood levels in the Katherine community and township through the weekend into Sunday. She warned that the floodwaters would persist for several days, leaving residents in the area on high alert.

Emergency Measures and Sheltering

Gill said that two flood rescues were performed in Katherine overnight, where people were trapped in their homes. He urged all residents to shelter as soon as possible, noting that flood conditions were expected to worsen in the short term.

There were 200 people in shelters on Saturday morning, he said. The levee system in Katherine was also being enacted for the first time, according to Gill, in an effort to mitigate the impact of the rising waters.

On Friday, the Katherine community had prepared for the flooding by sandbagging homes, opening shelters, and evacuating patients from the local hospital. These measures were taken in anticipation of the heavy rainfall and rising river levels.

The situation in the Northern Territory is part of a broader pattern of flooding across northern and eastern Queensland, as a tropical low, 29U, moves south-east toward the Wide Bay Burnett region. Senior BoM meteorologist Dean Narramore said that showers, rain, and thunderstorms were expected to spread across northern and eastern Queensland over the weekend, with moderate to locally heavy rainfall possible.

Narramore noted that up to 150mm of rain had been recorded from Georgetown to Normanton and in areas between Townsville and Gladstone overnight on Friday. A flood watch was in place for most of Queensland, with ‘widespread minor to moderate flooding possible across much of the state,’ according to the BoM.

Climate Impact and Future Risks

The recent flooding is part of a growing trend of extreme weather events linked to the climate crisis. In 2025, the third-hottest year on record, global surface air temperatures averaged 1.48C above preindustrial levels. For each 1C of global heating, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture, increasing the risk of intense rainfall and flooding.

Residents in affected areas are now bracing for a prolonged period of high water levels and potential further flooding. With the Katherine River expected to remain above major flood levels through Sunday, the focus is on ensuring the safety of those still in the affected regions.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and advising residents to stay informed through official channels. The coming days will be critical in determining the extent of the flooding and the necessary response measures.