Australian east coast rain to ease but flooding continues
Posted March 23, 2021 7:00 am
SYDNEY (AP) - Heavy rainfall was forecast to ease across Australia's east coast but floodwaters will linger for days across New South Wales state where 15,000 people were nervously waiting on Tuesday for potential orders to evacuate.
Some 18,000 residents of Australia's most populous state have fled their homes since last week, with warnings the cleanup could stretch into April.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday said several weather fronts continued to effect large swaths of the state.
Some parts of the state had recorded two-thirds of their annual rainfall in less than a week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the rain emergency was expected to ease by late Wednesday, but the 'œfloodwaters remain persistent for some time.'ť
'œI'm advised that the rain and flood situation does remain dynamic and extremely complex,'ť Morrison said.
Skies were forecast to clear over parts of Sydney and the coast to the north by late Tuesday.
'œIt is almost impossible to believe but we will see blue skies and sunshine just later this afternoon in western Sydney and on the Mid North Coast,'ť government meteorologist Agata Imielska said.
'œIt is very important to remember that even though we'll have blue sky and sunshine returning, flooding will continue and the flood risk will continue,'ť Imielska added.
Morrison said the New South Wales government had already requested 1,000 defense personnel to help clean up after the floods.
The flooding rain had extended along the New South Wales coast across the Queensland state border in the north and almost as far as Victoria border to the south.
A man walks across a flooded street in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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In this drone photo a house is surrounded by flood waters in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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In this drone photo a property is surrounded by flood waters in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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People survey a flooded construction site near the flooded Hawkesbury River in Windsor, north west of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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Sheep graze on a small patch of higher ground near flood waters in Windsor, north west of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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A bus lies partly submerged at a property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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Rescuers head off on a boat to rescue animals from Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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Equipment lies partly submerged at a property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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Equipment lies partly submerged at a property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
The Associated Press
A woman stands on the balcony of her home surrounded by flood waters in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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A couple walk along the flooded banks of the Nepean River at Jamisontown on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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A man, right, and a woman walk across a flooded street in Windsor, north west of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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Ben Deller paddles down a flooded street in a kayak loaded with groceries for his family in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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Resident Gary Evans waits in a boat for his family before returning to his house surrounded by flood waters at Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the countries east coast. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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Paul Zammit, center, and Ken Fisk, left, carry Zammit's pet emu, Gookie, after rescuing her from floodwater in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Hundreds of people have been rescued from floodwaters that have isolated dozens of towns in Australia's most populous state New South Wales and forced thousands to evacuate their homes as record rain continues to inundate the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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