A fourth person has been confirmed dead as intense rainfall and flash flooding continue to batter New South Wales’ Mid North Coast and Hunter regions, with emergency services warning the worst may not yet be over.
The latest victim, believed to be a man in his 70s, was discovered early Friday inside a vehicle that had veered off Orara Way near Nana Glen, northwest of Coffs Harbour. Formal identification is pending.
This brings the death toll to four, with another person still missing. Authorities have conducted 678 flood rescues since the wild weather began, including 177 overnight.
Almost 50,000 residents remain isolated, with over 9,000 homes at risk as major flooding continues. Severe rainfall—up to 100mm in some areas—has impacted Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, and as far south as the Snowy Mountains.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued severe weather warnings, with senior meteorologist Dean Narramore saying rainfall will gradually ease by Friday evening: “Rain (will be) easing in the mid-north, in the Hunter Region… and then easing through southern parts of New South Wales.”
Despite the easing rain, the BoM’s Angus Hines warned floodwaters could continue rising downstream. “We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream,” Mr Malone confirmed.
Hard-hit areas include Taree, where widespread flooding has forced dozens of road closures. The Pacific Highway remains shut between Coopernook and Purfleet, while the Oxley Highway, Waterfall Way, and several local roads are also closed.
In Sydney, some 3,000 properties lost power overnight, and more than 1,000 were affected in Lake Macquarie suburbs. Ausgrid expects services to resume this morning.
Public transport has also been disrupted. Trains between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange are cancelled, with limited buses replacing services. The entire Hunter line is suspended due to flooding at Sandgate.
Warragamba Dam, currently at 96% capacity, may spill later Friday or Saturday. Premier Chris Minns said no evacuation warnings had been issued for the Hawkesbury region but cautioned that “conditions could change.”
The first three victims of the flood crisis were previously identified: David Knowles, 63, found at his property near Taree; a man in his 30s near Wauchope; and a woman in her 60s whose car became submerged in Brooklana after she reportedly drove through floodwaters against advice.
Source: The Australian
