The 17 eye-opening photos from the Townsville floods.

-With AAP.

Emergency crews are stretched to the limit in flood-hit Townsville, with hundreds of people still waiting for help and evacuation centres filling up fast.

Authorities have warned between 10,000 and 20,000 homes could be at risk as unprecedented water releases from the city’s swollen dam have sent torrents of water down the Ross River and into the city, swamping roads, yards and homes.

Crocodiles have been spotted in suburban streets, and the water is teeming with snakes.

Schools and the airport are closed, but with days of more rain ahead, the crisis is far from over.

Here are 17 photos showing the devastation.

Townsville floods 2019. #bigwet pic.twitter.com/kve5FzAyir

— Phil Staley (@Phil_Staley) February 3, 2019

Townsville’s Castletown Shopping Centre. And yes they are waves. @abcnews pic.twitter.com/kdz1OXIZg0

— Josh Bavas (@JoshBavas) February 3, 2019

@bbcnrws I’m in Townsville. City flooding now. Aplins Weir this arvo pic.twitter.com/AGLklDv2dJ

— brenda squirrell (@SquirrellBrenda) February 3, 2019

Catastrophic situation in @TownsvilleNQ with more flooding expected!
Feeling for everyone with so many houses inundated ☹️ #flooding #Townsville pic.twitter.com/4Va1jirCYh

— Barry Gibson (@GibsonBarry) February 3, 2019

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Be Kind - Townsville (@bekindtownsville) on Feb 2, 2019 at 3:49am PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tracy ???? Raiteri (@tracyraiteri) on Feb 3, 2019 at 3:15am PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brittany (@blogwith_brittany) on Feb 3, 2019 at 1:50am PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

My town has been declared a disaster zone, it’s been raining constantly for the past week and thousands of home and shops are being flooded. Hopefully those who have lost their home are safe and well. ????????⛈???? . . . #photography #photo #photographer #photooftheday #instagram #insta #instapic #instapic #flood #flooding #floods #raining #rain #rainy☔️ #disasterzone #townsville #bigwet #travel #explore #effortlyss #effortlysspresets #travelgram #prayers #prayersneeded #storm

A post shared by Chloe Robson (@ch.ol.ro) on Feb 3, 2019 at 1:16am PST

Love seeing them @AustralianArmy choppers in the Townsville skies. Just wish is wasn’t necessary at the moment! #Townsvillefloods @abcbrisbane pic.twitter.com/HheMaSeFWG

— Allyson Horn (@allysonhorn) February 3, 2019

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FIT EMPIRE AND WELLNESS (@fitempire_tsv) on Feb 2, 2019 at 6:16pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bureau of Meteorology (@bureauofmeteorology) on Jan 30, 2019 at 9:47pm PST

Nothing to remind you that you are waking up in a disaster zone quite like the early morning sound of low-flying helicopters circling overhead. Extensive water views from our back deck, but we’re high and dry and have fared better than many others across #Townsville. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/RojBOmkbtC

— ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????? (@BuchholzJoel) February 3, 2019

Townsville flood. Live to fight another day. Barely got a wink of sleep last night. The water came right up to the edge of the foundation, but no water under the house. Reports of crocodiles seen in the area, but we're okay for now. Thanks again for all the well wishes. pic.twitter.com/sI85NNbngp

— Marc Lindsay (@MarcLindsay_) February 3, 2019