Australia – More Fatalities and Evacuations in New South Wales as Floods Continue

by in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, News

Communities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are facing evacuation orders after heavy rainfall of over 200 mm in 24 hours.

Floods in New South Wales, Australia, 08 March 2022. Photo; SES Sutherland Shire

Areas of the state, in particular in the north, saw flooding from late February. On 28 February as many as 15,000 people evacuated their homes in Lismore after the Wilsons River reached record levels.

Over the last 24 hours, Sydney and surrounding areas received high levels of rainfall which in turn increased levels of already swollen rivers and reservoirs.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) in NSW said dozens of locations around Sydney and south east NSW saw 100 to 150 mm of rain. Mittagong in the Southern Highlands saw the highest total, recording 232 mm of rain in 24 hours to 08 March.

Rainfall in NSW 24 hours to 08 March 2022. Image: BoM

NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said in a press conference on 08 March that there are currently 59 evacuation orders across the state, affecting a total of around 40,000 people. There are also 15 evacuation warnings affecting 20,000 people. There are 23 flood evacuation centres are currently in operation.

In the last 24 hours, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) issued evacuation orders for areas including in the areas of Camden, Narrabeen and Mulgoa in Greater Sydney, and Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin further south. Transport including road, train and ferry travel were all disrupted in Greater Sydney. The SES said it carried out 100 flood rescues and responded to 2,400 requests for assistance.

Premier Perrottet added that 2 people died in flood waters in Wentworthville early on 08 March, bringing the total number of recent flood fatalities in the state to seven.

Rivers in New South Wales

North Richmond and Windsor

Levels of the Hawskbury river jumped again following the recent heavy rainfall. The swollen river caused flooding in areas of North Richmond and Windsor last week.

Hawkesbury River at North Richmond, NSW. Image: BoM
Hawkesbury River at Windsor NSW. Image: BoM

Northern Sydney

In areas to the north of Sydney, the Colo river was well above Major Flood stage at Upper Colo as of 08 March.

Colo River at Upper Colo, North Sydney, NSW. Image: BoM

South West Sydney

The Nepean and Georges rivers were above Major Flood stage in areas to the south and west of Sydney, as of 08 March 202.

Nepean River at Menangle Weir, near Sydney, NSW. Image: BoM
Georges River at Liverpool Bridge, Liverpool, Sydney, NSW. Image: BoM

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