The town has recorded 187 millimetres of rain since January 1.

Resident Liz Flood said the road and bridge approaches at the Rankin River crossing had been washed away by up to forty metres after the weekend’s torrential rain.

She said at least three homesteads in the area had water damage and, in at least one case, station workers were being forced to camp out in the property cattle yards.

A worker at the Camooweal Motel and Caravan Park said up to 20 trucks had been waiting in the town since Sunday, unable to drive to Darwin due to flood damaged roads.

“Some have been here for a day or so and others have turned around and gone back,” the worker said.

A worker at the Post Office Hotel said all accommodation in the town had been booked out by stranded travellers.

The worker said anyone planning to travel the roads to Darwin, including tourists, truckies and militray personnel, had been forced to make a stop over in Camooweal until the roads were clear.

It is believed the vehicles may not be able to progress to Darwin until the end of the week.