Thousands after flooding in Australia without electricity – Diepresse.com
Numerous communities are still cut off from the outside world.
After the severe floods in the southeast of Australia, thousands of people have continued to be cut off from power supply. Up to 10,000 buildings were damaged in the state of New South Wales by the floods, as the authorities announced on Saturday. Numerous municipalities with a total of around 50,000 inhabitants were still cut off from the outside world.
« We will provide those who are isolated through land, water and air, » said a head of the rescue workers. He called on those affected to stay in a safe place and not to drive through the flood water. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially had to cancel a visit to Taree north of Sydney because of the difficult access conditions. « The location remains difficult, flood warnings and evacuation requests continue to apply, » Albanese wrote in the online service X.
Five dead since the beginning of the flood
A man’s body was recovered in Taree. The number of fatalities since the beginning of the floods increased to five. After the days of severe rainfall, the first residents returned to their devastated houses on Friday.
In the north of the state of New South Wales on the Australian east coast, as much rain had fallen within three days as normally in half a year. Rivers stepped over the banks and flooded entire towns. People saved themselves on the roofs of their cars and houses. Savers had to bring more than 600 people to safety.
According to scientists, climate change leads to more frequent and more violent extreme weather events. In large parts of Australia, from dry outback to the tropical Pacific coast, there were recently storm. According to the weather service, the ocean around Australia has been « unusually warm » in the past few months. As the temperature rises, the sea releases more moisture into the atmosphere due to evaporation, which can lead to more violent rainfall. (APA/AFP)
