People trapped on roofs after floods hit Australia’s east coast
Heavy rains caused floods off Australia’s east coast, seriously hit smaller cities about 250 kilometers north of Sydney, where residents were trapped on roofs, local media reported today.
Among the most severely affected are the city of Tari in the Hunter Vali and the city of Wingham on the Middle Bank, DPA reports.
Australian ABC television reports of « floods at unprecedented levels », describing dramatic scenes while helicopters and boats evacuated residents trapped in roofs amid heavy rains and strong winds, accompanied by low temperatures.
Local authorities said about 1,600 people from the Urgent services were deployed to help rescue efforts.
Some residents spent the night stuck on roofs in the midst of floodwaters. One woman told Channel 9 News that she and her family had been trapped for about 12 hours, surrounded by rapid brown flooded waters.
The Manning River in the region rose to a record level of over 6 meters, surpassing the previous maximum set in 1929, according to 9 News. Authorities have warned that river levels may increase even more if heavy rains continue.
More than 80 schools were initially closed, and there are power cuts in the region. Meteorologists predict heavy rains by Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings of « life -threatening sudden floods » in several areas.
