The most recent wild storm cell brought a year’s worth of precipitation to some areas of the country in just three days, and authorities continue to warn of “substantial risks for flash flooding.”
During the night, dozens of people were rescued in the Sydney metropolitan area, with about 50,000 residents facing evacuation due to severe flooding in Australia.
Thousands of additional residents on the east coast were ordered to evacuate their homes on Tuesday after rivers rapidly surpassed danger levels.
The most recent wild storm cell brought three days’ worth of precipitation to some areas of the country.
Torrential rain has caused dams to overflow and waterways to overflow their banks, bringing a fourth flood emergency to parts of the five million-person city in 16 months.
Social media footage depicted submerged roads and bridges, while rescue workers rescued people from partially submerged vehicles that became stranded in rising floodwaters.
Ashley Sullivan, the director of the state’s emergency services, reported that overnight, emergency response teams rescued 100 people in Sydney who were stranded in flooded cars or homes.
Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet stated that 50,000 people were given evacuation orders and warnings to prepare to abandon their homes, up from 32,000 on Monday.
He added that “this event is far from over” and cautioned drivers to remain vigilant as “significant risks for flash flooding” remain.
Despite the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) prediction that the storm cell will weaken in Sydney by Tuesday, the risk of flooding may persist throughout the week.
Some regions have received 800mm (31.5 inches) of rain since Saturday, surpassing Australia’s annual average of approximately 500mm (20.75 inches) (20 inches).
Climate change has exacerbated the severe rainfall in the country, according to experts.
The federal government has declared the flooding a natural disaster, allowing residents affected by the flooding to receive emergency funding assistance.
Officials reported that rescue crews continued to tow a bulk carrier ship that lost power off the coast of Sydney after tow lines snapped due to severe weather.
Officials had previously warned that the flooding in the city’s suburbs could be worse than in the previous 18 months.
As global weather patterns change, Australia has experienced more extreme weather in recent years, with droughts, bushfires, and floods becoming more frequent and intense.
