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No deaths have been recorded so far, but areas of southeast Queensland have been hit with extensive flooding.
Australian emergency services have repeatedly warned people to stay out of the flood waters, after photos and videos emerged of locals playing in flooded streets, and even doing some surfing.
But the discovery of a huge dead bull shark in floodwaters near Ayr, just south of Townsville, is likely to give some residents pause.
Cyclone Debbie slammed into the Far North Queensland coast as a Category 3 cyclone, the most powerful to hit the region since Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
The International Space Station captured the swirling clouds in the hours before Debbie hit.
Social media showed local children taking full advantage of the day off, swimming and playing in the heavy rain.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called for residents affected by flooding and storms to stay indoors and reassured those already affected that help was on the way.