AbdulQadir7
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Australia’s east coast is facing one of its worst flood disasters in living memory, with relentless rain turning rural and coastal communities into isolated islands and leaving tens of thousands stranded. Over the past two days, more than four months’ worth of rain has fallen across New South Wales, triggering flash floods that have killed at least three people and left one still missing as of Thursday. The natural disaster declaration covers a vast swath of the state, where rivers have burst their banks, roads and bridges have been washed away, and entire towns like Cundletown and Taree are cut off from the outside world.
The Manning River at Taree smashed a 100-year flood record, rising above six meters and still climbing, surpassing the previous high set in 1929, the scale of the flooding is unprecedented: more than 50,000 people have been told to prepare for isolation or evacuation, with over 140 flood warnings and 34 emergency alerts in effect statewide, Rescue crews have been working around the clock, using helicopters to pluck people from rooftops and boats to reach those trapped in their homes, but the sheer volume of calls—more than 5,000 in just 48 hours—has stretched emergency services to their limits.
Premier Chris Minns of New South Wales has warned that the crisis is far from over. “We are not out of the woods yet,” he said, urging residents to brace for more heartbreak as the weather system continues to dump torrential rain on already saturated ground, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 300mm (12 inches) of additional rain in some areas by Friday, raising the risk of further life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Rivers in many regions have yet to reach their peak, and authorities fear that the worst impacts may still be ahead.
The human toll is mounting. The first victim, a 63-year-old farmer near Taree, died after staying behind to protect his cattle as floodwaters rose—his body was found on the verandah of his home. Another man in his 30s was found dead after being trapped in his car near Rosewood, and a third body was recovered on Thursday as search and rescue missions continued. One person remains missing, and officials have expressed “grave fears” for their safety, stories of survival and loss are emerging from every corner of the disaster zone, with residents describing the “gut-wrenching” experience of watching their homes and livelihoods disappear under water.
With over 9,500 properties directly in the line of the floodwaters and over 100 schools closed, entire communities are now cut off. There are numerous power outages, and officials caution that because of the severe infrastructure damage, it may take days to get electricity back to some of the hardest-hit communities, more than 20,000 residents are cut off in Kempsey, an agricultural community on the Macleay River, and local authorities say the sound of rain on tin roofs is not calming but rather "deafening and horrible," with each new downpour, helicopter and siren residents and business owners in Taree are reliving the agony.
The scale of the emergency response is immense. More than 2,500 emergency personnel have been deployed, supported by the Australian Defence Force, police, and volunteer organizations. Helicopters have rescued people from roofs and bridges, while boats and high-clearance vehicles are being used wherever possible. Yet, the conditions are so treacherous that in some areas, even these resources can’t reach those in need, and officials admit there are still “about 100 to 150 incidents that we are yet to get to, because access is not really possible”.
Premier Minns and federal officials have stressed that the community must remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders. About 30% of rescues so far have involved people who attempted to drive through floodwaters, a preventable risk that continues to endanger lives, the government has declared the affected regions a natural disaster zone, unlocking additional resources and support for recovery efforts.
As the rain continues to fall and rivers threaten to rise even higher, the sense of anxiety and exhaustion is palpable. The next 24 hours are critical, with authorities bracing for more bad news and communities steeling themselves for further hardship. For many, the ordeal is far from over, and the long road to recovery will only begin once the floodwaters finally recede.
The Manning River at Taree smashed a 100-year flood record, rising above six meters and still climbing, surpassing the previous high set in 1929, the scale of the flooding is unprecedented: more than 50,000 people have been told to prepare for isolation or evacuation, with over 140 flood warnings and 34 emergency alerts in effect statewide, Rescue crews have been working around the clock, using helicopters to pluck people from rooftops and boats to reach those trapped in their homes, but the sheer volume of calls—more than 5,000 in just 48 hours—has stretched emergency services to their limits.
Premier Chris Minns of New South Wales has warned that the crisis is far from over. “We are not out of the woods yet,” he said, urging residents to brace for more heartbreak as the weather system continues to dump torrential rain on already saturated ground, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 300mm (12 inches) of additional rain in some areas by Friday, raising the risk of further life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Rivers in many regions have yet to reach their peak, and authorities fear that the worst impacts may still be ahead.
The human toll is mounting. The first victim, a 63-year-old farmer near Taree, died after staying behind to protect his cattle as floodwaters rose—his body was found on the verandah of his home. Another man in his 30s was found dead after being trapped in his car near Rosewood, and a third body was recovered on Thursday as search and rescue missions continued. One person remains missing, and officials have expressed “grave fears” for their safety, stories of survival and loss are emerging from every corner of the disaster zone, with residents describing the “gut-wrenching” experience of watching their homes and livelihoods disappear under water.
With over 9,500 properties directly in the line of the floodwaters and over 100 schools closed, entire communities are now cut off. There are numerous power outages, and officials caution that because of the severe infrastructure damage, it may take days to get electricity back to some of the hardest-hit communities, more than 20,000 residents are cut off in Kempsey, an agricultural community on the Macleay River, and local authorities say the sound of rain on tin roofs is not calming but rather "deafening and horrible," with each new downpour, helicopter and siren residents and business owners in Taree are reliving the agony.
The scale of the emergency response is immense. More than 2,500 emergency personnel have been deployed, supported by the Australian Defence Force, police, and volunteer organizations. Helicopters have rescued people from roofs and bridges, while boats and high-clearance vehicles are being used wherever possible. Yet, the conditions are so treacherous that in some areas, even these resources can’t reach those in need, and officials admit there are still “about 100 to 150 incidents that we are yet to get to, because access is not really possible”.
Premier Minns and federal officials have stressed that the community must remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders. About 30% of rescues so far have involved people who attempted to drive through floodwaters, a preventable risk that continues to endanger lives, the government has declared the affected regions a natural disaster zone, unlocking additional resources and support for recovery efforts.
As the rain continues to fall and rivers threaten to rise even higher, the sense of anxiety and exhaustion is palpable. The next 24 hours are critical, with authorities bracing for more bad news and communities steeling themselves for further hardship. For many, the ordeal is far from over, and the long road to recovery will only begin once the floodwaters finally recede.
