There are crocodiles everywhere in the city here

Australia’s Northern Territory is experiencing a major climate crisis this Monday, March 9, 2026, following a weekend of torrential rains that caused the worst flooding in nearly thirty years. The city of Katherine, particularly hard hit, is reliving the trauma of 1998 as floodwaters submerge infrastructure and isolate entire communities.

Faced with the emergency, local police coordinated the mass evacuation of more than a thousand people, mobilizing a fleet of helicopters and planes to reach remote areas where roads are now impassable.

Beyond the rising waters, a more insidious threat is terrifying residents: the uncontrolled spread of marine predators.

The police have issued a formal warning, stating that there are now « crocodiles absolutely everywhere, » these reptiles taking advantage of the currents to venture into the heart of residential areas and flooded gardens.

The authorities’ message is unequivocal: all swimming or movement in the water is strictly prohibited.

Meanwhile, at least 90 homes are still without power, complicating rescue operations and communication with those affected.

The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro, has already announced that several schools will remain closed this Monday, as the absolute priority is ensuring the safety of human lives in the face of the now omnipresent wildlife.

This region, one of the least populated in the country, is used to extreme conditions, but the scale of this sudden flood is a reminder of the vulnerability of these territories to the disruption of monsoon cycles in the Australian Top End.