An estimated 300,000 cattle have died as a result of flooding in Queensland, Australia.

The flooding occurred in Townsville and controversy is growing around the level of planning the local council made in preparation for the flooding, including whether they opened the flood gates to a dam in time.

Federal minister for agriculture and water resources David Littleproud has said that defence aircraft will fly to Queensland and drop fodder to cattle cut off by flooding in northwest and central Queensland.

The premier of Queensland and minister for trade Annastacia Palaszczuk has called the situation a “crisis” for farmers and told ABC Radio that she was devastated to see scenes of “a sea of dead cattle” after the flood.