NSW Floods: Mid-north coast to get rain break as warning issued for storms heading south
At least three people have died due to flooding in New South Wales, with one person still missing.
A slow-moving weather system caused intense rain and is now moving south, threatening further flooding.
Regions affected include the Hunter, mid-north coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Goulburn, and Bega. Heavy rain which fuelled deadly and devastating flooding along Australia's east coast is moving south, leaving behind flooded communities to deal with a massive mop-up. Three people have been confirmed dead as a result of the floods in the Hunter region and mid-north coast, where rain is expected to ease after saturating the region. A slow-moving trough which delivered intense rain will bring further heavy falls to parts of the NSW Hunter region, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands, extending further south throughout Friday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain for the Illawarra, parts of the Hunter, Sydney, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains.
Many more have been rescued after entering floodwaters. A police officer driving a sedan was travelling with a 60-year-old woman in a 4WD when they came across water over a road near Dorrigo on Wednesday night, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said. The officer checked the water level which was "ankle deep" and told the woman he was not continuing, advising her to be cautious and not enter floodwaters.
The woman phoned the officer 30 minutes later saying she was in trouble about 17km away, Waddell said. She was found dead inside the 4WD on Thursday. "We're just encouraging people, please do not enter these floodwaters," Waddell said. "It is a really dangerous once-in-a-lifetime event and there's been some tragedies ... obviously the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised."
A 63-year-old man's body was earlier found on a flooded home's veranda at Moto. The body of a man believed to be in his 30s was found in floodwaters west of Port Macquarie on Wednesday. There are grave fears for another man who remains missing. All of the deaths will be reviewed by the coroner.
Heavy falls potentially totalling 150mm in 24 hours could bring flash flooding at Goulburn and south to Bega, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned. Disaster assistance from the state and commonwealth governments has been expanded, with 19 areas now eligible for support. Specialist disaster lawyers would provide free advice about rejected insurance claims, housing issues and assistance grants, Legal Aid NSW said.
Additional emergency services personnel were travelling from Victoria to assist on Thursday night. Australian National University flood researcher Mahdi Sedighkia said the latest floods should prompt a rethink in disaster management to mitigate future events. "We are clearly witnessing a marked increase in both the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, highlighting the urgent need to reassess how we understand and manage flood risks," Dr Sedighkia said.
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