A 63-year-old man has been found dead in a flood-affected home in Moto, as torrential rain cuts off nearly 50,000 people on the NSW Mid North Coast. Police are investigating the death, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered condolences, with Minns calling the death “horrifying” and warning that more rainfall is expected in the already hard-hit region.
Acting NSW police commissioner Peter Thurtell also confirmed earlier today that three people have been reported missing.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has carried out over 500 flood rescues and responded to more than 4000 incidents, including 339 rescues in the past 24 hours alone. Approximately 2500 emergency personnel, 13 helicopters, boats, and hundreds of drones are now deployed across the region.
Evacuation orders are in place for parts of Wauchope, Macksville, Gloucester, and Bellingen. Up to 300mm of rain is forecast in some areas over the next 24 hours, including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, and Taree.
“This is a major operation,” Minns said. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
There are currently 31 emergency warnings, including severe weather alerts from Bulahdelah to Snowy Cape. Rivers including the Nambucca, Macleay, Manning and Gloucester remain under major flood warnings.
Residents are urged to avoid floodwaters, with SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone warning: “It puts not only your life in danger but also the personnel who will have to come get you.”
Rain is expected to extend south to Sydney and the Illawarra by Friday, with damaging winds up to 80km/h forecast along the coast.
Source: News.com.
