Australian authorities began clean-up operations on Saturday after devastating floods in the country’s southeast left five people dead and submerged over 10,000 properties.
The New South Wales emergency services agency said damage assessments were under way in the state for the mid-north coast region after the floods that cut off towns, swept away livestock and destroyed homes this week.
Conditions Improving
“Early estimates indicate at least 10,000 properties may have been damaged following record flooding,” the agency said in a statement. Conditions had improved since Friday in the impacted areas of Australia’s most populous state, it said.
NSW SES Chief Superintendent Paul McQueen ESM said, “I reiterate this is still a dangerous situation where significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have occurred. Unfortunately, it is not possible to let people return to their homes until water further subsides and we’re sure they can access their homes and communities safely.
“Homes and businesses may need to be inspected by a qualified electrician.”
Even so, hundreds of flood-hit residents were still in evacuation centres, State Emergency Services commissioner Mike Wassing said at a media conference in Sydney, with 52 flood rescues being made overnight.
The latest flood-linked death was that of a man in his 80s, whose body was found at a flooded property about 50 km (31 miles) from Taree, one of the worst-hit towns, police said.
‘You Are Not Alone’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, forced on Friday to cancel a trip to Taree due to floodwaters, said it was “awful to hear the news of more loss of life”.
“My message to Australians impacted by the devastating floods on the Mid North Coast is this – you are not alone,” Albanese posted on X.
My message to Australians impacted by the devastating floods on the Mid North Coast is this – you are not alone.
We’ve now activated disaster assistance across 19 local government areas, including new support for Armidale, Muswellbrook and Walcha.
In addition, applications for… pic.twitter.com/YJJ79sduul
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 23, 2025
“All of our thoughts are with his loved ones and the community at this time,” the Australian Prime Minister said in a statement.
The floods, sparked by days of incessant rain, submerged intersections and street signs in mid-north coast towns and covered cars up to their windshields, after fast-rising waters burst river banks. At their peak, the floods isolated around 50,000 people.
Australia has been hit with more extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. After droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021.
(With inputs from Reuters)
