Sydney, May 23, (dpa/GNA) – Emergency services discovered the body of an 80-year-old man on his property in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales on Friday, bringing the confirmed death toll from the devastating flooding on Australia’s east coast to five.
Three other victims had previously been found drowned in their cars. A 63-year-old man was also found dead on Wednesday in his flooded home in the town of Moto, some 250 kilometres north of Sydney.
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding along Australia’s east coast, with smaller towns in Mid North Coast among the hardest hit.
During a visit to the flood-hit area, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged the population not to drive through flooded areas.
“If it’s flooded, forget it,” he said.
Albanese said his thoughts were with the communities that were cut off.
“You are not alone. The federal government, the state government, local government as well as the whole of the people of New South Wales and, indeed, the people of Australia are with you at this time,” he said at a press conference.
“Tragically, we’re seeing more extreme weather events. They’re occurring more frequently and they’re more intense,” Albanese added.
The worst-affected areas include small towns in Mid North Coast, such as Taree in the Hunter Valley wine region, as well as Port Macquarie and Wingham. Thousands are still without power, and numerous schools remain closed.
Many roads are completely flooded. The Pacific Highway, an important transport route between Sydney and Brisbane, was closed in some places.
The floodwaters are also threatening animals, including horses, cows and the endangered Tasmanian devil.
Residents described the situation as catastrophic, with tens of thousands preparing for evacuations.
At a press conference, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said more than 670 rescue operations have already been carried out, some under extremely difficult conditions.
He spoke of an “amazing, heroic logistical effort,” in which volunteers put themselves in extremely dangerous situations to save complete strangers.
Many people had to be rescued from the roofs of their homes, he said, as metres-high brown waves swept past below them. He said emergency services are using inflatable boats and helicopters to rescue people.
According to the state emergency service, the rain has now left the flood-hit region and is heading south towards Sydney. Initial warnings have already been issued for the city’s south-western suburbs.
It advised people not to remain in the area, warning them that it could become too dangerous for rescuers to carry out rescue operations.
GNA
PDC