Incessant rain prompts mass evacuation orders in Sydney, Australia

First modification: 07/04/2022 – 21:49

The main evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people were presented in Sydney, the largest city in the oceanic nation and capital of the state of New South Wales. So far this year, this is the third major flood that some suburbs of the city have suffered. Rainfall is expected to continue this week.

At least 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate or have been placed on alert due to the heavy rains that have affected the area since this weekend.

“Some of the images are really heartbreaking – people’s homes, their lives turned upside down again, and their livelihoods severely affected,” said Steph Cook, Minister in Charge of Floods, NSW Local Government. South.

Some communities have been isolated and material damage has been reported. The floods have partially covered some bridges, houses, vehicles and have blocked several roads.

Screenshot from a video showing an emergency team rescuing two ponies from a flooded area in Milperra, Greater Sydney, Australia, on July 3, 2022. © Reuters – New South Wales Emergency Service

Rainfall mainly affects western Sydney, where the Hawkesbury, Colo and Nepean rivers are constantly in flood. About 100mm of rain has fallen on Australia’s east coast since Sunday.

The situation was described as “devastating” by Theresa Fedeli, mayor of Camden, a council that is part of the affected state.

“Most have just recovered from the last flood, repaired their homes, their businesses and unfortunately we tell them that it will happen again,” he said.

Two people look at a flooded gas station in Camden, Sydney, on July 3, 2022. © AFP – Muhammad Farooq

Rainfall will continue

More than 200 millimeters (mm) of rain was reported in some places and others reported 350 mm since Saturday. In the next 24 hours about 100 mm are expected in a strip of 300 kilometers.

The warning of landslides and flash floods is issued. The increase in rainfall in the last two years has caused the levels in the river basins to rise almost to their maximum capacity.

The closure of the roads due to flooding makes rescue work difficult. In this image, a rescuer examines one of the affected tracks in Camden, Sydney, on July 3, 2022. © AFP – Muhammad Farooq

The Climate Council of Australia highlighted the incidence of climate change in these phenomena, although it stated that the nation was prepared to face these severe weather events.

Due to the frequency of these effects, the federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, added that climate change must be taken “seriously”. According to Watt, “we are living in a changing climate”.

At least 2,000 calls for help were reported on Sunday. The rescue of 29 people was also known, including a woman who was hanging on a post for an hour.

It was also learned that the body of a man who apparently fell into the water due to strong winds was rescued in the port of Sydney, although an investigation was opened in this regard.

Some 100 soldiers and two helicopters have been assigned to rescue efforts.

With EFE and Reuters

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