More than 50,000 people have been stranded in eastern Australia as relentless floodwaters continue to rise, submerging towns, cutting off roads, and claiming at least two lives.
The crisis, now declared a natural disaster by the Australian government, has triggered a massive emergency response as torrential rain batters communities for a second consecutive day.
Police recovered two bodies from floodwaters in the Mid North Coast, a region of steep hills and fertile valleys located approximately 400 kilometers north of Sydney. Authorities have launched urgent rescue operations, with many residents forced to seek refuge on rooftops, cars, and elevated bridges.
“We’re bracing for more bad news in the next 24 hours,” warned New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns. “This natural disaster has been terrible for this community.”
In the flood-ravaged town of Kempsey, located along the swollen Macleay River, more than 20,000 people were left isolated with little warning.
“The sound of rain on a tin roof is usually calming, but now it’s deafening and terrifying,” said Mayor Kinne Ring. “Every time it rains, you wonder what will happen next.”
Some areas received more than half a year’s worth of rain in just three days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
About 140 kilometers south in Taree, local business owner Jeremy Thornton described the flooding as “gut-wrenching,” among the worst he has ever witnessed.
“It’s tough,” he told AFP. “We’re reliving it every second—hearing the rain, the helicopters, the sirens.”
In dramatic scenes, an elderly couple trapped by a fast-rising flash flood were rescued by helicopter after climbing onto the roof of their submerged car. Other stranded residents took shelter on an elevated highway bridge before being airlifted to safety by a navy Seahawk helicopter.
As swollen rivers tore through farmland, locals reported seeing dead livestock washing ashore, swept away from their paddocks by the surging currents.
With many rivers yet to reach peak flood levels, the worst may not be over. Emergency services remain on high alert, and additional resources have been deployed under the national disaster declaration.
Authorities continue to urge residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders where issued.
“This is a dynamic and dangerous situation,” NSW officials stated. “Lives and property remain at risk.”
