The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of heavy rainfall that could potentially lead to flash flooding and landslides along the east coast from Newcastle to Bateman’s Bay in New South Wales state, with the rain expected to intensify over the next two days.
“We now face hazards on many fronts – flash flooding, river flooding and coastal erosion,” NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cook told a televised briefing.
She urged people to reconsider holiday travel as the bad weather hit at the start of the school holidays.
“This is a life-threatening emergency,” Cook said.
More than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain fell in many areas, with some hitting as much as 350 millimeters, the Bureau of Meteorology said, warning of flooding risks along the Nepean River.
Heavy rains caused Sydney’s main dam to overflow overnight, water authorities said, adding that modeling showed the spill would be comparable to a major spill in March 2021 at Warragamba Dam.
“There’s no place to hold the water in the dams. They’re starting to overflow. The rivers are flowing very fast and very dangerous. And then we have the risk of flash flooding, depending on where the rains are,” State Emergency Management Commissioner Carlene York said .
Over the past day, 29 people have been rescued from floodwaters, including one who dangled from a pole for an hour as workers struggled to reach them.
The Australian government has provided the state with 100 military personnel to help place sandbags and two helicopters to help with any rescue operations, Defense Minister Richard Marles told Sky News.
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