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Flooding havoc: power cut, schools closed

The wild weather that has brought extensive flooding to south-east Queensland is creating havoc in northern New South Wales.



The NSW Department of Education has closed all government schools between Evans Head and the Tweed on the advice of the State Emergency Service. Ten properties have been evacuated in the Tweed region and winds of up to 122 kilometres per hour have been recorded at Cape Byron. Richard Wake from Country Energy says about 10,000 customers are without power this morning. "Very high winds and heavy rain have resulted in quite a lot of wires down, broken cross-arms and even a pole fire," he said. "There's quite a variety of problems that we've got that are related to the extreme weather conditions."

Tony Casey from the SES says two people had to be rescued overnight in Murwillumbah. "A man with a child were caught in a causeway crossing, they managed to extract themselves to the bank and were found by police," he said. Traffic on the Pacific Highway has also been affected by fallen trees, while a fallen power line has blocked the Bangalow to Lismore road.



Tony Casey says north coast residents should brace themselves for more wild weather. "It's going to be bad, and it's going to be very difficult for the northern rivers over the next 24 to 36 hours, and possibly longer," he said. The local member for Lismore, Thomas George, has urged people in flood prone areas to be ready to evacuate at short notice. "If the weather forecasts are right, we're in for a major flood. I'd certainly encourage anyone to be prepared because you may not get a lot of time to evacuate," he said.

New South Wales Emergency Services spokesman Steve Whan says non essential travel to the north coast should be delayed. "People who are travelling into the area whether it is by air, or very importantly by road, should check on road conditions. There are a number of bridges which are under water," he said. Emergency crews are watching the ocean closely as it nears high tide this morning.

_{©ABC News} | Gewijzigd: 10 februari 2017, 13:44 uur, door Joyce.s

Noodweer teistert zuidoosten Australië

De Australische overheid heeft zaterdag duizenden inwoners van de zuidoostelijke deelstaat New South Wales de opdracht gegeven hun huizen te verlaten vanwege het aanhoudende noodweer. Grote delen van de deelstaat staan onder water.

Zeker 20.000 mensen zijn door het natuurgeweld van de buitenwereld afgesneden. In totaal zijn zeven steden ontruimd. Reddingsdiensten hebben dertig mensen gered. Voor een 70-jarige man kwam de hulp te laat. Hij stierf zaterdag in zijn auto tijdens een vluchtpoging.

Het slechte weer houdt al dagen aan, waardoor de situatie voor veel mensen steeds benarder wordt. Een aantal rivieren is buiten de oevers getreden. Duizenden hectaren grond staan onder water. Enorme golven beuken op de kust en sleuren auto's mee terug naar zee. Forse regenbuien en harde rukwinden teisteren de huizen die nog niet onder water staan.

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