Victorian border town hit by worst flooding since 1993 as residents risk being ‘isolated for days’

Emergency services are warning a Victorian border town’s residents to evacuate or risk being isolated for days amid wild weather nationally.

Residents in a Victorian border town have been warned to evacuate immediately or risk being “isolated for a number of days” as the town experiences its worst flooding in decades.

SES crews and emergency services remain in overdrive as Australia’s east coast continues to be smashed by heavy thunderstorms and rain, with multiple alerts already warning people to flee parts of NSW, Victorian and Queensland towns and cities.

The Murray River at Echuca has reached its highest level since the devastating 1993 floods as water peaked around 94.8m on Saturday.

Parts of Echuca homes on the wrong side of the flood levee are battling against time construct a sandbag island around a small group of affected homes in Goulburn Rd surrounded by a sea of rising flood water from the Murray River. Picture: David Caird

Victorian emergency services have been people who are living, working or holidaying in Echuca and Echuca Village to evacuate immediately.

A warning on the Vic Emergency website states major flooding could peak around 95m from Sunday evening, with major flooding possible.

“If you do not relocate now you may become isolated for a number of days,” the warning states.

“If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you.”

Another alert for the Campaspe River at Echuca, downstream of Rochester, warns people to move to higher ground as they are “in danger”.

Echuca has experienced its worst flooding in decades, with the Murray River surpassing heights not seen since 1993. Picture: David Caird

In NSW, residents in multiple streets of South Moree, on the banks of the Mehi River, were urged to evacuate at 7.26am on Sunday.

“You must evacuate now because properties, businesses, roads and essential services are expected to be impacted by dangerous floodwater,” the warning on NSW SES website reads.

“You should evacuate to stay with family, friends, or alternate accommodation in areas unaffected by flooding,”

Flood warnings remain current for many NSW catchments, including the Orara and Macleay catchments.

A Vic Emergency warning for Echuca states residents risk becoming isolated for days if they do not move to higher ground. Picture: David Caird

A separate flood watch is current for the Inland Rivers and the Wollombi Brook, Lower Hunter, Hawkesbury Nepean and Colo Rivers.

In Queensland, multiple flood and weather warnings were issued for parts of the southeast coast, Darling Downs and the Granite Belt districts on Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued the warning at 4.58am on Sunday, as a well-defined low remains off the Sunshine Coast.

The system is very likely to remain close to the far southern Queensland coast, and has some potential to move just onshore near the Gold Coast this afternoon and evening.

The low is then expected to move more rapidly southward to northern New South Wales on Monday.

Queensland residents are being warned flash flood may occur on Sunday. Picture: John Grainger

The bureau forecasts 90 to 150mm of rain are possible within six hours, while 24-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 150mm could eventuate across the region.

In some parts of the southeast, rainfall of up to 300mm could drench the coast and ranges.

The onset of heavy rainfall should occur during this morning with a gradual contraction southward later in the day and a potential clearance out of the state by late this evening.

A Flood Watch and several flood warnings are current for South East Queensland and Wide Bay and Burnett areas.

Queensland and NSW are expected to be hit by more bad weather.

Gold Coast, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich are also on flood watch as those areas could be affected by the heavy rainfall.

Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Wide Bay and Burnett district and the warning for this district is cancelled.

The bureau has also issued a hazardous surf warning for Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters and Gold Coast Waters until midnight Sunday.

A low pressure system is forecast to develop near the northern New South Wales coast on Sunday and move south during Monday, bringing moderate to heavy rain to the northeast of the state, including the Northern Rivers and parts of the Mid North Coast.

This rainfall may cause moderate to possible major flooding along the Wilsons River from Sunday, with minor to major flooding possible along the Tweed and Richmond Rivers.

An 85-year-old woman has been rescued by police uninjured after her vehicle was swept off a flooded causeway at Bauple on the Fraser Coast. Picture: Queensland Police

It comes as drivers are being warned to take care on the roads after an elderly woman was rescued when her car was swept away in floodwaters at Scrubby Creek Crossing south of Maryborough on Friday.

“We have seen people, again, driving into flooded roadways and placing themselves at risk,” Road Policing and Regional Support Command Acting Chief Superintendent Christopher Stream said.

Minor to moderate flooding is also possible along the Brunswick, Clarence, Bellinger and Nambucca Rivers from Sunday.

Rain in Brisbane as Australia's east coast braces for more heavy rain this week. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Originally published as Victorian border town hit by worst flooding since 1993 as residents risk being ‘isolated for days’