Australia Flooding Closes Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Australia’s famous Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been closed after a huge rainfall.

Waterfalls appeared all over the landmark, also known as Ayers Rock, at the heart of the national park in central Australia.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the massive Christmas storm is a twice-a-century weather event.

Flash floods in the remote town of Kintore forced the evacuation of dozens of residents.

Image source Wikpedia

Up to 25 houses were flooded in Kintore, near the border with the state of Western Australia, Northern Territory police told Australia’s ABC.

Kintore was almost cut off, with only severely impaired access from the Western Australian side, they added.

Papunya, another town 155 miles from Alice Springs, was completely cut off, while the town square of Yulara – the nearest community to Uluru – was inundated.

Rangers closed the Uluru national park at 09:00 local time on Boxing Day (Second Christmas Day), citing the risk of flooded roads and potential car accidents.

Parks Australia said they were continuing to monitor the situation but it was not yet safe to

Uluru is a large sandstone rock in the outback sacred to the indigenous Anangu people, and one of Australia’s top tourist attractions.