Heavy rains cause flooding in and around Sydney, Australia, with 32,000 residents told to evacuate

Heavy rainfall is causing more flooding concerns in parts of Australia, with roughly 32,000 Sydney-area residents being told to make plans to leave their homes Monday.

It’s not the first time this year that Australia has experienced severe rainfall, as authorities report that a month’s worth of rain fell over New South Wales over the weekend.

Heavy rains overwhelming dams, high winds and rough seas brought about by a strong storm, pose a threat to the 5 million residents in Australia’s largest city.

The area was walloped by flooding conditions in March and April. Heavy rainfall also pummeled the continent’s west coast in March 2021. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says some areas surrounding Sydney had received nearly 5 feet of rainfall over the past 24 hours.

“The system that has been generating this weather does show signs that it will ease tomorrow, but throughout today, expect more rain,” Bureau of Meteorology manager Jane Golding said.

An estimated 32,000 people were impacted by evacuation orders, said New South Wales state Premier Dominic Perrottet, who added he anticipates the number to increase during the week.

A cargo ship carrying 21 crew members lost power off the New South Wales coast Monday morning. Rescue workers planned to use tugboats to drag it away from port and into open waters, where it would be safer.

Swells are reportedly topping 26 feet and being bolstered by 34 mile an hour winds. Airlifting the ship’s crew to safety was ruled out due to dangerous situation in the air.

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Mayor Theresa Fedeli, of the Camden municipality southwest of Sydney, said Sunday night flooding was taking a toll on her communities residents and business operators.

“They just keep saying ‘devastating,’” she said. “‘Not again.’”

The mayor said government and citizens alike must learn to adapt to “the changing environment,” as flooding appears to be becoming more common.

For now, it’s about riding out the current storm for Sydney and its neighboring towns.

“We’ve got to be strong, we will get through this,” she said. “But you know deep down it’s really hitting home hard to a lot of people.”

The city of Sydney’s Twitter feed warns locals to avoid non-essential travel, particularly by train, where transportation will be “heavily impacted.”

With News Wire Services