Heavy rains on Monday (November 14) triggered flash floods that isolated some inland towns in south-east Australia and fresh evacuation warnings were issued for thousands of rural residents. South Wales and north-east Victoria flooded riverbanks overnight, bringing even more suffering to flood-weary residents.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter that flash floods are "creating dangerous conditions" and that the federal government is working closely with states. rescue measures. Roads, bridges and farms were flooded in rural New South Wales. Molong, some 300km northwest of Sydney and home to more than 2,000 residents, was one of the cities hit by severe flooding.
Images on social media showed a shipping container and household items floating in the center of town. "Almost all the shops have collapsed," Mayor Kevin Beatty told radio station 2GB. He said what appeared to be a shipping container or trailer was stuck. on the road near town, making it difficult for emergency responders to reach Molong.
Residents of Eugowra, of around 800 people, were ordered to move to higher ground after authorities deemed it unsafe to evacuate due to the flash flood. Australia's east coast is experiencing a rare third consecutive year of the La Niña weather phenomenon associated with increased rainfall.
There are currently more than 100 flood warnings in New South Wales and 84 in Victoria after weather data showed some areas had rained for more than a month in 24 hours. “We have seen many flash floods where roads have been flooded.
We had water that then poured into houses... ankle deep water in some places," Tim Wiebusch, Victoria's state chief of emergency operations, told the Times. ABC TV station. weekend.
Dozens of schools have been forced to close while thousands of homes remain without power.