SYDNEY, May 23 (Alliance News): The death toll from severe flooding in southeastern Australia rose to four on Friday after the body of a man was discovered in a car submerged near Coffs Harbour, about 550 kilometres north of Sydney.
Another person remains missing as the region reels from three days of relentless rainfall that has submerged homes, swept away livestock, and left tens of thousands stranded.
Authorities said about 50,000 people are still isolated, particularly in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, where floodwaters continue to pose major risks.
Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston urged caution for residents returning to flood-hit homes. “Floodwaters have contaminants, there can be vermin, snakes… and electricity can pose a danger,” he said in a press briefing.
Drone footage and television reports showed submerged roads, vehicles nearly underwater, and debris—including dead livestock—strewn along coastal areas.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had planned to visit the hard-hit town of Taree, was forced to cancel due to dangerous conditions.
Speaking from Maitland, he assured flood-affected residents that they were not alone. “We’re here to say very clearly: you are not alone,” Albanese said.
The storm system, which dumped nearly four months’ worth of rain within 72 hours, shifted south towards Sydney on Thursday.
The city experienced heavy rain and strong winds overnight, prompting Sydney Airport to shut down two of its three runways temporarily on Friday morning. Rail services, including the airport line, were also disrupted by waterlogged tracks.
Authorities are closely monitoring Warragamba Dam, which supplies 80% of Sydney’s water and is currently at 96% capacity, for potential overflow.
Australia has been increasingly battered by extreme weather events, a trend many experts attribute to climate change. After enduring droughts and catastrophic bushfires in recent years, the country has faced repeated flooding since 2021.
“What once were rare downpours are now becoming the new normal — climate change is rewriting Australia’s weather patterns, one flood at a time,” said Davide Faranda, a researcher with ClimaMeter.
