The catastrophic floods on the south-east coast of Australia were consumed by at least two fatalities and cut off the entire towns from the world. Tens of thousands of people have been trapped in their homes without electricity and access to help, and the authorities warn that the worst can only come – forecasts announce further intensive rainfall.
The sudden floods that hit the south-east coast of Australia led to the death of two people and cut off many towns, leaving tens of thousands of inhabitants in isolation. The authorities warn that more intensive rainfall is expected over the next 24 hours.
The police confirmed finding the body of a 63-year-old man in a flooded house near Taree, about 300 kilometers north of Sydney. The second body, most likely belonging to a missing man around 30 years of age, was found in swollen waters.
– We expect more tragic messages in the next hours. This is a natural disaster with a huge scale – said the Prime Minister of New South Wales, Chris Minns, during a press conference.
Extreme floods in AustraliaReuters
Over 50,000 people in the danger zone
The greatest destruction was recorded in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions, New South Wales – the most populous condition of Australia. Emergency services inform that almost the entire MID North Coast area is under the influence of heavy rainfall.
There are currently 140 flood warnings. Over 50,000 people are in the danger zone and have been ordered to prepare for evacuation. There are 9.5 thousand properties in the immediate vicinity of the swollen water. Over 100 schools have been closed, and thousands of houses and farms remain without electricity. One of the most affected places is Cundletown in the Mid North Coast region, which was completely cut off by the water.
Port Macquarie, Nowa South Wales (22.05.2025)EPA/LINDSAY MOLLER
Flood accounts
– I came to work on Tuesday and I haven't left it yet. We are on the hill, but there is water around us everywhere. We are cut off. I have never seen such a high level of water – says Nicole Sammut, a nurse looking after 67 older people in a local nursing home who became a shelter for emergency services.
Sherinah Peck was evacuated from her farm at two o'clock on Wednesday. Her belongings were kidnapped by water.
“I found some of the furniture later on the beach,” he says. Looking for on the Old Bar on the beach, a commemorative bike belonging to her deceased mother, she came across scattered remains, dead animals and was overturned by a panicked cow.
– The animal was terrified. The wave came. I had to run to the dunes – he says.
This is not the end of heavy rainfall
The atmospheric front brought rainfall equal to months of rain over two days. The entire towns were cut off, and the inhabitants were forced to seek shelter on the roofs of their homes and higher floors. Rescue operations are difficult – many places cannot be reached by a water or air road yet.
Prime Minister Chris Minns apologized to people who had to wait for hours for help, but assured that rescue activities were significantly intensified. Two and a half thousand members of the emergency services were involved in the action.
The Australian Meteorological Office predicts that by Friday in some places up to 200 liters per square meter may fall, which creates the risk of life -threatening floods. Meteorologists predict that the front will start to lose strength only after heavy rainfall and will go towards Sydney.
Source of the main photo: EPA/LINDSAY MOLLER