Sydney braces for ‘tough 48 hours’ as severe storms and flash flooding force thousands to flee their homes
- Record downpours cut off towns, swept away farms, livestock and roads forcing about 60,000 people to flee their homes
- Climate change has affected Australia in recent years with droughts, deadly bush fires, and floods becoming more common
The death toll from week-long floods battering Australia’s east coast rose to 20 on Tuesday, after the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in floodwaters in Sydney.
Police said it was “suspected” the pair are a missing mother and son whose car was abandoned in a stormwater canal.
Tens of thousands of Sydney residents have been told to evacuate their homes as severe storms and flash flooding inundated swathes of Australia’s largest city on Tuesday.
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Australia steps up rescue efforts after deadly floods force thousands to flee in eastern states
The national weather bureau warned of “a tough 48 hours ahead” for Sydney, with 60,000 people subject to evacuation orders and warnings across the affected areas, according to emergency services.
Intense rainfall across Sydney flooded bridges and homes, swept away cars and even collapsed the roof of a supermarket.
The Manly Dam, in the city’s north, began to spill on Tuesday, with 2,000 residents told to evacuate.
In the riverside suburb of Georges Hall vehicles were semi-submerged and police had to rescue stranded in their cars by rising floodwaters.
