Sydney Faces Consecutive Damages from Worst Floods in 50 Years

Source: Reuters

'[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The southeastern coastal state of New South Wales (NSW), including Sydney, Australia, is experiencing the worst flooding in 50 years, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and causing ongoing damage.

According to major foreign media on the 21st (local time), continuous rain for three days in NSW has caused rivers to swell, spreading flood damage.

Sudden heavy rainfall caused the Warragamba Dam, Sydney's water source, to overflow, leading to an emergency large-scale release of water. The Nepean River and Hawkesbury River west of Sydney have exceeded water levels of 13 to 14 meters, resulting in severe flooding in nearby Penrith, Jamisontown, Melgora, and North Richmond.

The NSW State Emergency Management Authority warned that this is the "most severe level since the November 1961 flood."

On the day, Sydney recorded 111mm of rainfall, marking the wettest day of the year, while the northern coastal region of NSW experienced over 900mm of heavy rain in the past six days, which is three times the average March rainfall.

The NSW government issued evacuation orders for thousands of residents affected by flooding in 20 areas, and an emergency school closure order was issued for 200 schools in western Sydney and the mid-northern coastal areas of NSW.

Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW, stated, "This is the first time in history that weather conditions have deteriorated at such a rapid pace."

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, heavy rain is expected to continue in the NSW region on the 22nd. Consequently, flood warnings have been issued for most parts of NSW and Queensland.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.