Severe flooding has already ravaged Australian coastal towns in the states of New South Wales and Queensland in recent days. The government has now issued a weather warning for heavy rain and strong winds for a 400km stretch of Australia’s east coast. In addition to the evacuation order for 200,000 people, another 300,000 people have also received an evacuation warning. That means they must prepare for the order to leave their home.
“A lot of people woke up this morning to find that much of the state is under water,” said Dominic Perrottet, the chief minister of New South Wales. “If any of the evacuation orders concern you, please leave,” it said at a press conference.
Meteorologist Dean Narramore warns that between 50 and 150mm of rain could fall in Sydney in the coming hours. “This can lead to flooding, which is dangerous and potentially life-threatening.”