Australia floods how many people died

NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott was among those to offer condolences, saying the man's death would send ripples through the northwest Sydney community. Rivers around flood-stricken NSW remain treacherous and around 24, people have been evacuated from their homes but the torrential rain that has battered the state for the week has finally eased.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday morning even though the sun was shining, the state is still in the grip of a devastating crisis, with rivers still rising and floodwaters taking some time to recede. Around 60, people have been told by the State Emergency Service to be ready to evacuate as several severe weather warnings remain in place and swollen catchments continue to experience flows of water not seen in 50 years in some places.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there will be no major rain for at least a week, paving the way for the army and emergency service workers to get essential supplies to isolated communities, particularly in North Richmond where floodwaters continue to rise.

Ms Berejiklian is grateful for the reprieve from the record-breaking rainfall that plunged the state into its fourth crisis in as many years, after drought, bushfires and COVID The damage inflicted on thousands of homes, businesses and infrastructure means "life won't be normal for a lot of people for a long time".

A number of moderate and minor flood warnings are still in place as are several major flood warnings. There have been 12, insurance claims so far and that number is expected to increase dramatically, with the government promising it will be vigilant in holding insurers to account when it came to processing claims. Just over a year after black summer bushfires ripped through East Gippsland, more than 1, residents have been left without power as the area was inundated with mm of rain and hit with strong winds.

A low-pressure system is moving south from NSW, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to issue severe weather warnings for coastal areas in Gippsland and the Otways. According to the Ausnet website, 1, residents in Mallacoota were affected by a downed power line. The Otway coast, west of Melbourne, was forecast to have heavy rainfall on Wednesday and there were also flood watches for central Victoria, west Gippsland and the Snowy River region.

But overall, conditions were improving as the low-pressure system moved to the south-east. About 24, people have been evacuated from their homes, including some residents of Moree in northern NSW, where the Mehi River was set to peak on Wednesday night. Moving livestock as well; the mess and the smell, the spiders , centipedes and snakes that come looking for high ground.

But Humphries said there could be silver lining. A number of major, moderate and minor flood warnings remain in place across NSW, with other areas of concern including the Upper Hunter around Singleton, Grafton, parts of the Central Coast and the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment north-west of Sydney. Berejiklian said she was grateful for the reprieve from the record-breaking rainfall that plunged the state into its fourth crisis in as many years, after drought, bushfires and the Covid pandemic.

But she noted this was not the time to be complacent. While the floods have brought destruction and suffering to many, in some regions the rain provided relief to drought-stricken communities. The Southern Downs mayor, Vic Pennisi, said the rain over the past few days had been a godsend for the rural Queensland town of Stanthorpe, which had been trucking in water for the past year. Rivers previously almost dry were now breaking their banks and dams were overflowing.

Related Coverage. Gladys Berejiklian, premier of New South Wales, the worst-hit state, warned that water levels would keep rising in some areas as major dams overflowed and rivers bulged, with thousands of people were on evacuation watch. Homes have been submerged, livestock swept away and crops inundated. There have also been many animal rescues, with craft used to move dogs, cattle, and even an emu, away from the flood waters. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Neighbours filmed one couple's home being carried along by flash floods in Taree north of Sydney. What's the latest on the ground? This infant was rescued alongside another child, four adults and three dogs in Sydney's west.

Image source, EPA. Parramatta River, in central suburban Sydney, broke its banks and flooded the ferry wharf. What is the latest forecast? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original tweet on Twitter. From fires to floods. Related Topics. Published 22 March. Published 14 December Published 30 October Published 29 October