Australia: Floods in Sydney Worsen, 50,000 Told to Evacuate

KOMPAS.com - Flooding in Sydney intensified as torrential rains kept battering Australia’s east coast on Tuesday, July 5.

About 50,000 residents in the state of New South Wales have been told to either evacuate or warned they may receive evacuation orders, up from 30,000 on Monday, July 4, authorities said.

Emergency workers said they carried out 22 flood rescues in Sydney overnight. The workers had the support of 100 army troops deployed by New South Wales.

Officials said that the disaster had led to power cuts for 19,000 homes.

‘This event is far from over’

“This event is far from over, please don’t be complacent,” New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

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“Wherever you are, please be careful when you’re driving on our roads. There are still substantial risks for flash flooding.”

“We’re asking people across Sydney today to please stay at home unless you really need to leave the house,” state Emergency Management Minister Steph Cooke said.

When will flooding ease?