Record floodwaters on eastern Australia’s east coast have left three people dead and one missing, officials said Thursday. More than 500 people were rescued in the flooding emergency in New South Wales state north of Sydney.
The area has seen heavy rain since Tuesday, exceeding local records set in 1921 and 1929. The region is forecast to receive up to 30 centimeters (1 foot) of rain in the next 24 hours, with 50,000 people warned to evacuate or be isolated by floodwaters.
Three deaths have been reported: a 63-year-old man found dead in a flooded house on Wednesday afternoon, and two men who disappeared while trying to drive through flooded intersections. A 60-year-old woman also died after her SUV became trapped in floodwaters.
Over 500 people were rescued from floodwaters in just over two days, with many trying to drive across flooded roads. Emergency services used helicopters to rescue stranded people from rooftops and verandahs.
The flooding has affected communities including Taree, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Bellingen in New South Wales. The region has opened 14 evacuation centers as of Thursday. A low-pressure weather system stalled over the flooded area since Monday, bringing heavy rain that exceeded local records.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/australia-floods-man-dead-missing-3431ca06b0b1fb4e2bce3fd6721ca6e8