Record Flooding in Australia: Three Dead and One Missing in New South Wales

 

Record Flooding in Australia: Three Dead and One Missing in New South Wales Severe flooding in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has resulted in three fatalities and one person remains missing, with over 50,000 residents under evacuation warnings. The flooding, caused by historic rainfall from a slow-moving low-pressure system, has been declared a natural disaster, with some residents experiencing the highest flood levels in living memory. Authorities report that more than 2,000 emergency workers are involved in rescue efforts, including operations to evacuate stranded individuals from rooftops. NSW Premier Chris Minns warned residents that the situation remains dangerous, with more heavy rain forecast in the coming days.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the missing. A woman is feared lost after her car was trapped in floodwaters, and a man who was walking near a flooded road has not returned home. In total, police have rescued 22 people—18 from floodwaters, four from a bridge—and animals, including dogs and a cat, have been rescued with their owners. The city of Taree, on the Mid North Coast, has been severely impacted, with floodwaters surpassing 6.3 meters (20.6 feet)—a record height for the region. The body of a 63-year-old man, David Knowles, was recovered from a property near Taree. Similarly, the bodies of two men, aged in their 30s and 60s, have been found in floodwaters at Rosewood and Brooklana, respectively, prompting investigations.

A fourth person, a 49-year-old man, remains missing at Nymboida. Forecasts warn that some areas could receive another 300mm (about 12 inches) of rain by Friday, with nearly 10,000 homes at risk of flooding in the Mid North Coast. PM Anthony Albanese expressed condolences for the deaths and pledged federal support. Premier Minns urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate if possible, recognizing that some individuals may be unable to leave due to age, health, or other vulnerabilities. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) reports responding to over 300 flood rescues in the past 24 hours alone, totaling more than 500 rescues since the floods began. Emergency crews have utilized helicopters, boats, and high-clearance vehicles amid challenging conditions to reach isolated communities.

Jihad Dib, NSW Minister for Emergency Services, emphasized the ongoing efforts to manage the crisis, acknowledging the unprecedented severity of this flooding event.

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