More than 150 rescued from floods in eastern Australia
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Some 15 emergency evacuation orders were in place statewide, said the New South Wales State Emergency Service.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – The Australian authorities on April 6 said 152 people had been rescued from flood waters in the eastern state of New South Wales after torrential rain sparked warnings for residents to move to higher ground.
The authorities said 72 rescues were carried out in state capital Sydney, Australia’s largest city, where there was dangerous flooding in several low-lying suburbs.
Some 15 emergency evacuation orders were in place statewide, said the New South Wales State Emergency Service, which had fielded 4,128 calls for help in the 24 hours to 5am local time.
“Flood levels in some of the rivers, particularly in western Sydney, are continuing to rise,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said in a televised media conference.
Torrential rain pummelled Australia’s south-east on April 5, dumping almost a month’s worth of rainfall on Sydney, prompting warnings for people to avoid non-essential travel and stay indoors.
Sydney received 111mm of rainfall over the 24 hours to the morning of April 5, data from the nation’s weather forecaster showed, just shy of mean rainfall of 121.5 mm for the month of April. REUTERS
