Sydney: Vast herds of cattle have drowned in the floodwaters sweeping across the Australian outback, with officials confirming that more than 100,000 livestock—cattle, sheep, goats, and horses—have either been swept away, gone missing, or perished in the floods.

The disaster, which has devastated parts of Queensland, covers an area roughly the size of France.

The heavy flooding followed unusually intense downpours last week over outback Queensland, an arid region known for its vast cattle ranches. The swollen rivers burst their banks, inundating the land, and leaving behind significant damage.

State agriculture minister Tony Perrett described the situation as "heartbreaking," stating that the full extent of the destruction would only become clear as the floodwaters recede.

"These are only early indications of the magnitude of this disaster and while these preliminary numbers are shocking, we are expecting them to continue to climb as flood waters recede," he said. "It's heartbreaking to consider what western Queenslanders will be going through over the weeks and months as they discover the full extent of losses and damage—and start the long slog to start again."

Extent of damage

The floods have affected an estimated 500,000 square kilometres (190,000 square miles) of land in western Queensland, an area comparable in size to France. Local industry body AgForce reported that some cattle ranches may have lost nearly all of their herds due to the flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology revealed that some towns in the region had received as much as 500mm (20 inches) of rain within a single week—equivalent to their typical annual rainfall.

In a desperate attempt to save surviving livestock, farmers have been forced to use small hills that rise above the floodwaters as refuges. Photos shared on social media show cattle crowding together on these small patches of land to escape the rising waters. Queensland's fire department has been dropping bales of fodder via helicopter to reach the stranded animals.

The state’s primary industries department reported that around 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) of road have been flooded, a distance greater than the famous Route 66 in the United States.

Rising floodwaters on Tuesday morning encircled the remote town of Thargomindah, the farthest settlement from the sea in Australia. In response, a makeshift dirt flood levy was quickly constructed around the town to protect its 200 residents. The local council said preparations were well underway, including securing food deliveries and ensuring the airport had enough fuel to accommodate potential evacuations if necessary.

Australia's "channel country," one of the largest cattle fattening regions in the country, has been heavily affected by the floods. Normally dry and inhospitable, the vast plains of this region rely on wet-season rains to fill the dry creek beds or "channels" that stretch across the land. However, this year’s excessive rains have left behind devastation for the area’s farmers and ranchers, with many now facing an uncertain future as they work to recover from the floods.