Leslie Massey
Record-breaking floods have devastated parts of Australia, with Queensland and New South Wales experiencing extreme weather events. In Queensland, an area four times the size of the UK has been inundated, with towns like Stonehenge, Jundah, and Windorah experiencing major flooding. The flooding in New South Wales has resulted in four confirmed deaths and several missing persons, with over 150 flood warnings in place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 22nd May 2025 and 23rd May 2025 |
| State | New South Wales |
| Number of Deaths | 4 |
| Number of People Rescued | 678 |
| Number of People Isolated | 50,000 |
| Number of Homes at Risk of Flooding | 10,000 |
| Towns Affected | Gloucester, Sydney, Newcastle, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Rosewood, Brooklana, Stonehenge, Jundah, Windorah, Adavale, Thargomindah, Yowah, and Charleville |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Four dead, several missing
Record-breaking floods in New South Wales, Australia, have killed four people and left several others missing. The flooding has stranded tens of thousands of people after days of relentless rain.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has carried out more than 670 rescues since the flooding began, responding to more than 535 flood rescues in the 24 hours to 05:00 local time (19:00 GMT). The service currently has more than 150 flood warnings in place, with 40 of those at the emergency level.
The victims include a man in his late 70s, whose body was recovered in the early hours of Friday after he appeared to have driven into floodwaters near Coffs Harbour. The body of a 63-year-old man, identified as David Knowles, was found on Wednesday afternoon at a property in Moto, near Taree. On Thursday, the bodies of a man in his 30s and a 60-year-old woman were found in floodwaters near Rosewood and Brooklana, respectively.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said: "We are bracing for more bad news. It's very difficult to get supplies into some of these isolated communities." Minns urged those in "prepare to evacuate" areas to leave if they can and acknowledged that some would not be able to. NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said: "These aren't the records that you want to break, but we've seen more rain and more flooding [...] than we've ever seen before."
High School Education in Australia: Free or Fee?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Towns underwater, livestock and crops lost
This week, the Australian state of New South Wales grappled with record-breaking floods, with towns underwater and many residents stranded.
The towns of Gloucester and Taree, on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, have been inundated with floodwaters, causing devastation for local farmers. One farmer described the situation as "absolute devastation", with many having to "walk off with just the clothes on their back". The floodwaters have also impacted transport, with train services, including airport services, facing disruptions due to flooded tracks. Sydney Airport was forced to shut down two of its three runways on Friday morning, causing flight delays.
The flooding has resulted in the loss of livestock and crops, with residents having to abandon their homes and leave their stock behind. The Royal Flying Doctors Service reported that communities in outback Queensland, such as Yowah, have been cut off from healthcare and are relying on helicopters to deliver essential supplies and evacuate those in need of medical attention. The lack of access to primary healthcare services could have significant impacts on the elderly population in these communities. Stock that survived the floods will face additional challenges, such as dealing with heavy clays and thick mud, increasing their risk of sickness.
The Paroo, Bulloo, Cooper, and Thomson catchments in Queensland recorded their biggest floods in 50 years, causing extensive damage to agricultural lands and livelihoods. The flooding in Queensland covered an area four times the size of the United Kingdom, leading to widespread stock losses. The inundation of floodwaters will also replenish parched soils and recharge groundwater systems, which are crucial for drinking water and agricultural practices.
Australian vs US Passports: Size Comparison
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Thousands of homes at risk
Recent record-breaking floods in eastern Australia have put thousands of homes at risk and killed at least four people. The flooding has been described as the worst in living memory, with nearly 10,000 homes at risk of flooding in the state's Mid North Coast region alone.
The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) has carried out more than 670 rescues since the flooding began, and authorities have issued more than 150 flood warnings, 40 of them at an emergency level. The floods have been caused by heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving more than their annual average rainfall in just four days.
The town of Gloucester, on New South Wales' mid-north coast, has been inundated, and there are fears that the situation will worsen in the Hunter region and other parts of the mid-north coast, with more rain forecast. The flooding has cut off communities, with tens of thousands of people isolated and unable to access healthcare or emergency services.
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has visited flood-hit areas and pledged support, saying, "Our thoughts are with communities that are cut off... we're here to basically say - very clearly and explicitly - you are not alone." NSW Premier Chris Minns has also urged those in "prepare to evacuate" areas to leave if they can and acknowledged the challenges of getting supplies to isolated communities.
Exploring the Distance: Australia and Indonesia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sydney airport runways closed
New South Wales (NSW) grappled with record-breaking flooding this week, with towns on the state's Mid North Coast being inundated with heavy rain. Four deaths have been confirmed, and several people are missing.
Sydney Airport, officially known as Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, is located 8 km (5 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot. The airport has a total of three runways, with the first gravel runways being built in 1933.
Sydney Airport's runways were closed in July 2023 due to unfavourable wind conditions. The airport usually operates two runways, which are aligned in a north-south direction. When winds come from the north or south, both runways can be used for take-off and departure. However, when winds blow from the east or west, airport operations have to switch to an east-west direction.
On this particular occasion, strong winds from the east or west forced the closure of the runways, causing flight cancellations and delays. This situation impacted thousands of passengers and highlighted the challenges of managing air traffic during adverse weather conditions.
In addition to weather-related closures, Sydney Airport's east-west runway was closed for an extended period between April 2020 and May 2021. This closure was necessary to accommodate the increased demand for aircraft parking during the COVID-19 pandemic and to facilitate essential maintenance on the main north-south runway.
Australia's Abolition of Death Penalty: A Moral and Ethical Decision
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flooding compared to the size of Texas
This week, the Australian state of New South Wales grappled with record-breaking flooding. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) reported that they had responded to over 535 flood rescues in a 24-hour period and over 670 rescues since the flooding began.
Now, to put the flooding into perspective, let's compare it to the size of Texas.
The extent of the flooding in Queensland, Australia, in early April 2025, was staggering. It covered an area more than four times the size of the United Kingdom, which equates to approximately 1 million square kilometres. To put this into context, the inundated area was larger than France and Germany combined, and it was even bigger than Texas, which covers 695,662 square kilometres. If the flooded area in Queensland were a country, it would be the world's 31st largest.
The impact of the flooding in Queensland was devastating. Towns were evacuated, and some communities were cut off from healthcare and other essential services. The flooding also took a toll on agriculture, with farmers losing livestock and facing potential soil fertility issues.
While the scale of the flooding in Queensland was immense, it is important to note that Texas has also experienced significant flooding events. For example, in August and September 2017, Texans witnessed the continuous rain bands of Hurricane Harvey, which unleashed up to 60 inches of rain over eight days, causing widespread devastation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that flooding can cause significant damage and even be fatal.
Oakley Sunglasses: Are They Safety-Rated Down Under?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
New South Wales and Queensland.
Four people have died, and there is one missing person.
The flooding in New South Wales has isolated 50,000 people, and nearly 10,000 homes are at risk. In Queensland, an area four times the size of the UK has been affected, and many towns have been evacuated.
