There are concerns for people missing in Queensland floodwaters as the intense deluge that caused widespread damage in the state’s south-east continues and now threatens lives in northern NSW.
New South Wales:
Flood rescues in northern NSW will resume this morning after emergency services were forced to stop due to dangerous conditions, ABC News reports.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) carried out about 1,000 rescues yesterday across the Northern Rivers.
80 percent of the rescues were in Lismore, where the level of the nearby Wilsons River rose to 14.37 metres – more than 2 metres higher than the previous 1954 benchmark.
But many people were still waiting for assistance overnight after safety concerns, including low-hanging power lines and surging torrents of water, forced rescue efforts to be stopped.
This comes as Sydney, the Hunter and the South Coast are bracing for a similar rain event today with authorities warning the deluge is heading south and will possibly hit by the end of the week.
Queensland:
In Queensland, searches are still underway for three people who have been missing in the floodwaters, including one man who has not been seen for three days after he fell from a boat in the Brisbane River.
On Monday, more than 1,000 schools were closed, over 1,500 people were in evacuation centres, trains were shut down and 43,000 residents were without power, with floods yet to peak in at least three regions.
The death toll from the flood disaster remains at eight, but authorities have warned this will likely rise as tidal and river flows continue to hit highs.
Despite similarities to the 2011 floods with thousands of homes inundated in Brisbane, Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said there was little more the State Government could have done to lessen the damage in the city due to the extreme conditions.
In response to this crisis, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia issued a message of support to those who’s homes have been damaged by the floods.
“You are not alone!” Archbishop Makarios said in his message, before urging the faithful not to lose hope and trust in God.
Source: ABC News.
