By Greg Vega 
Australian authorities say more than 18,000 people have been evacuated in recent days as a result of flooding that has hit the country’s east coast since last week and is considered the worst in more than five decades. 2021).
Of the total evacuees, 15,000 were from the north-central coast of the state of New South Wales, 900 mm of rain had fallen in the past six days, and 3,000 were residents of neighboring Sydney, according to the head of the New South Wales state government, Gladys Periglion.
Many areas flooded in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic will be affected by the 2019-20 wildfire, which is considered the worst and longest in Australian history, as well as the worst and most devastating drought.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Perezkillian said, “We have never seen such extreme weather conditions in the history of our state. It is in the midst of a continuous series and an epidemic.”
They anticipate catastrophic flooding
“We are preparing for a very difficult week,” said the head of Australia’s most populous government, New South Wales, with no reports of injuries or severe injuries.
The floods have also disrupted urban traffic, forcing about 200 schools to close and isolating some cities along New South Wales’ north-central coast, so regional administrations have not ruled out stopping the military if necessary.
“We have helicopters and other equipment to assist in the search and rescue,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told 2GB, recalling that his government would provide financial assistance to the victims of the disaster.
In the neighboring state of Queensland, on the border of New South Wales, heavy rains are also affecting and fears of catastrophic floods this week.
The extent of the flood damage in New South Wales is unknown at this time, but Andrew Hall, executive director of the Insurance Council of Australia, said its affiliates have received 5,000 claims, according to local network ABC.
gs (efe, dpa)