Rapidly rising floodwaters have surged in eastern Australia, submerging homes and trapping residents on their roofs overnight, as officials cautioned that additional rain is on the horizon.
Storms have already unleashed over four months’ worth of rainfall in just two days in certain areas of New South Wales, drowning homes, businesses, and roadways in muddy waters, authorities reported.
“We are facing a situation where heavy rain has been continuously falling, and it’s not moving away. This is partly due to the saturated ground and swollen rivers,” stated the state’s emergency minister Jihad Dib during a press briefing.
Taree, located approximately 300 kilometers north of Sydney, has become a significant area of concern for emergency responders after 415mm of rain battered the town since Monday, which is over four times the average monthly rainfall for May.
Watch: Flood victims trapped on roofs as heavy rain lashes eastern Australia
The escalating floodwaters left residents stranded on roofs overnight, with rescuers unable to reach them due to severe weather conditions.
Taree resident Holly Pillotto, one of those trapped on the upper level of her home, expressed her urgent need for help as floodwaters continued to rise.
“Our neighbors on the back porch are also stuck,” she shared with Australia’s Channel Nine.
“It’s an incredibly hazardous place to be,” she added.
Jihad Dib mentioned that emergency services were “mobilizing all resources we have” to assist those affected.
State Emergency Service Chief Superintendent Dallas Byrnes indicated that the situation was “extremely dynamic and worsening,” with over 150 flood rescues performed overnight.
“Numerous individuals are being rescued from rooftops and upper floors of houses,” Mr. Byrnes informed the national broadcaster ABC.
However, he cautioned that “conditions are quite perilous, and it might be that aviation resources are unable to operate throughout the day.”
The agency reported that around 16,000 individuals, or 7,400 homes, would remain cut off until at least tomorrow.
More heavy rain is anticipated in the next 48 hours, with some areas expected to receive 200mm, before conditions start to improve, authorities stated.
Scientists have warned that heatwaves and other extreme weather phenomena are increasing in frequency and intensity as global temperatures rise due to climate change.
