Status: 06.07.2022 08:46 a.m
Heavy rainfall has been causing severe flooding in New South Wales for days. Thousands more people are fleeing: So far, there have been evacuation orders and warnings for 85,000 people.
Floods on Australia’s east coast have forced thousands more to flee their homes. New South Wales state authorities issued new flood warnings affecting areas north of Sydney. Even in the metropolis itself, rivers carrying floods continue to pose a danger. “This event is far from over,” emphasized the Prime Minister of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet.
Escape from the flood of water
Heavy rains have been causing flooding in the region since the weekend. The authorities have already published more than 100 evacuation orders. A total of 85,000 people were asked to leave their homes immediately due to the risk of flooding or to prepare to leave their homes without much warning.
On the western outskirts of Sydney, rivers burst their banks and large areas of land turned into lakes. Muddy water penetrated houses, roads and bridges were no longer passable. The federal government declared 23 flooded areas in New South Wales a state of disaster to facilitate aid payments to affected residents.
Prime Minister promises help
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese traveled to the flooded area and pledged immediate financial support to the people. As of Thursday, affected adults should receive 1,000 Australian dollars (663 euros) and children 400 dollars (265 euros) as emergency aid. The floods are the first major test for his government.
Albanese had promised during the election campaign to tackle the climate crisis, which Australia is particularly suffering from. The previous conservative government of coal supporters Scott Morrison was repeatedly heavily criticized for its passive attitude. Parliament is now to discuss long-term solutions for the regions on the east coast that are repeatedly affected by floods and bush fires.
Multiple floods in the past few months
Severe flooding has repeatedly occurred on Australia’s east coast over the past 18 months. According to climate scientists, such extreme weather events will increase in the course of global warming.
“It is heartbreaking that for many people this is the third or fourth time in 18 months that their lives have been disrupted by a natural disaster of this magnitude,” Albanese said. “In recent years, our resilience has been repeatedly put to the test.” It is time to act.
A powerful low-pressure area between Australia’s east coast and the North Island of New Zealand is responsible for the rain masses, which is driving humid air and heavy waves onto the coast of New South Wales. It was only in March that there were serious floods in Sydney and large parts of New South Wales and Queensland.