Scott Tanner says police not hiding Lismore flood death toll info

Police say they are not hiding information from the public about the Northern Rivers flood death toll as alleged looters are charged for targeting Lismore businesses.

Richmond Police District commander Superintendent Scott Tanner says the flood that smashed the Northern Rivers has not been a mass casualty event and the death toll remains at five.

It came as he confirmed people had been charged with break and enter offences for allegedly looting unattended homes and businesses that had been ruined by the flood.

“We are not hiding information from the public,” Supt Tanner said in relation to the death toll.

“If we have information we are sharing that with the community.”

He said police had been going from house to house in Lismore to thoroughly search for people.

He said the CBD had been completely searched and expected North and South Lismore would be complete by the end of Sunday.

There have been rumours swirling on Lismore and Northern Rivers social media pages that the death toll could be much higher with suggestions that dozens may have perished.

Police reported the discovery of the fifth flood victim about 2pm on Friday afternoon.

The body of a man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was located at Byrril Creek Road near Terragon, south of Murwillumbah.

Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District attended and established a crime scene.

Outlying communities such as Coraki, Woodburn and Evans Head are next on the search list.

Supt Tanner said there were people unaccounted for but did not know how many.

“On the Monday, we effectively rescued 3000 people out of the flooded basin area of Lismore CBD,” Supt Tanner said.

“Out of those 3000 we only had 600 people register that they were actually safe.”

He urged people who were displaced by the flood or were still isolated to let authorities know where they were.

Meanwhile, Supt Tanner said a paint shop and a chemist were among flood-affected businesses that had been broken into while unattended.

But he did not have specific information on how many homes and businesses had been hit.

Northern Rivers Hotel licensee Guy Hannigan and his partner Monique Blackie were gutted when they found their North Lismore pub had been looted on Saturday. Picture: Stuart Cumming

Northern Rivers Hotel licensee Guy Hannigan also reported having kegs of beer stolen on Friday night.

“This community is hurting enough,” Supt Tanner said.

He said anyone who was looting or knew anyone who was looting needed to be held to account.

Police had come from as far as Victoria to bolster ranks patrolling the flood zone.

“If we find you, we will charge you and put you before the courts and I am sure the community will let their feelings be known to you about that,” Supt Tanner said.