Crocodile alert after flooding in northern Australia

So far, around 1,000 people have had to be evacuated to safety, including patients and staff from Katherine Hospital, who have been transferred to the provincial capital Darwin. Residents of several remote communities have been evacuated by plane and helicopter.

"Crocodiles absolutely everywhere"

Meanwhile, emergency services issued an urgent warning against entering the floodwaters - both because of the strong currents and the large number of saltwater crocodiles. "We have reports of people swimming in rivers," the 9News channel quoted incident commander Shaun Gill as saying. "Please don't do that." Rescue operations are difficult anyway, he said. "There are crocodiles absolutely everywhere," warned Gill. The animals are particularly active at high tide.

The Northern Territory is popular with tourists from all over the world. Katherine is close to the spectacular Nitmiluk National Park with the fascinating gorges of Katherine Gorge, which were created over millions of years by the Katherine River. A visit by boat or kayak is the highlight of a trip to Australia's north for many travelers. However, the region is also known for its dangerous wildlife, including giant saltwater crocodiles, poisonous snakes and spiders.