Fourth person confirmed dead as deluge continues on NSW Mid North Coast
Four people have now been confirmed dead and thousands more cut off by record floods, with warnings the danger is not yet over.
A fourth person has been confirmed dead as the devastating floods continue across the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.
The body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, was found inside a vehicle that had run off Orara Way in Nana Glen – about 30km northwest of Coffs Harbour – about 4.30am on Friday after the car was spotted by a passing motorist.
The man is yet to be formally identified.
Nearly 50,000 people have been cut off in the deadly flooding that has now claimed four lives in the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.
Severe weather is expected to continue to smash parts of eastern NSW, as the wet conditions move south towards Newcastle and Gosford throughout Friday.
The Blue Mountains and the Illawarra ranges have received 150mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
The Mid North Coast has copped 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with another 50mm to 100mm smashing Sydney and its surrounds.
At Sydney Olympic Park, more than 118mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours up to 9am on Friday, with 108mm recorded in Belrose and 104m in Parramatta.
The city is facing another deluge of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday morning.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said severe warnings had been issued for regions from the Illawarra to the Snowy Mountains, with some areas to receive six-hourly totals of 50mm to 100mm.
“Basically inland of Wollongong all the way down to around inland of around the Merimbula area,” he said on Friday morning.
Mr Narramore said the majority of the rainfall would hit the southern Sydney region, stretching into the southeastern pockets of the state.
“Rain (will be) easing in the mid-north (on Friday), in the Hunter Region (Friday) afternoon, the Sydney region late (Friday) afternoon into this evening, and then easing through southern parts of NSW as we move through (Friday) with just a few isolated showers remaining,” he said.
Anthony Albanese will visit some of the areas hardest hit by the floods on Friday morning, which he has described as “pretty horrific”.
The Prime Minister told Triple M Newcastle that he was “on the road” on Friday morning, confirming he would visit Taree to see first-hand what was happening and thank the “extraordinary people of the SES”.
Mr Albanese said funding would be available to those affected by the flooding from Monday afternoon.
“People can just log on to the MyGov site to be able to get that support,” he said.
Evacuation centres and support will also be available through Services Australia, Mr Albanese said.
“Tragically, there’s so much experience in dealing with these events already this year,” he said.
“We will make sure that that support is available as a priority.”
Overnight, the NSW SES responded to more than 1500 incidents across the state and rescued 177 people from the floodwaters, totalling to 678 rescues since the wild weather began.
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain was expected to begin easing later on Friday, the risk from flooding was far from over.
“For the last few days, our efforts have focused on undertaking lifesaving rescues, where more than 600 have been carried out since this flooding began,” he said.
More than 50,000 residents are at risk of being isolated and more than 9,000 homes are under threat as major flooding continues to cause carnage along the coast.
NSW Police have warned of the dangers of dangerous debris and animals – including snakes and vermin – lurking in floodwaters, and urged residents to steer clear of the rising waters.
NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston said there were many risks in homes or premises that have been inundated.
“Electricity can also pose a danger as well so when you return, make sure you assess those risks,” he said.
“If you’re unsure, especially with electrical hazards, get a qualified electrician in and make sure that it is free of risk.
“Don’t risk yourself and your family.”
More than 150 flood warnings are in place, with major flooding warnings for the Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, Manning and Paterson Rivers and Wollombi Brook.
There are 40 emergency warnings in place, 86 act and watch warnings, and 27 advice warnings across parts of eastern NSW.
More than 500 boats and nine helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents, and more than 2200 volunteers are on the ground to assist those isolated in the floodwaters.
Rain began to ease in Macksville on Thursday evening, giving residents a sense of relief for Nambucca catchments along the Mid North Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines told the ABC there would be “much less rainfall” in the flood-affected areas from Friday.
“In fact, no rainfall across most areas which are still experiencing significant major flooding,” he said.
However, the risk of life-threatening flooding remains.
Mr Malone said that despite rain beginning to taper off in the Mid North Coast, residents were not out of the woods yet.
“We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream,” he said.
Conditions will finally start to ease on Friday morning across the northern parts of the Mid North Coast, as the band of rain finally shifts south, though the bureau said there was a long way to go.
“A big change finally after four days, where the weather pattern had not budged, and that’s why we saw so much rain in the same areas,” Mr Hines told the ABC.
“Yesterday, that band of rain slid southward and really stretched across a large part of NSW.”
The deluge is finally expected to begin easing on Saturday.
‘Turn around’: Road closures as floods swamp NSW
Numerous roads and highways have been closed as the rain triggers enormous floods and landslides across the state.
The Pacific Highway remains closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, per Live Traffic NSW.
The Oxley Highway is also shut between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.
Failford Rd is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway, and the Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
Waterfall Way has been shut between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.
Seaham Road is closed at Raymond Terrace, and Sandgate Rd is closed between the Pacific Highway and the Newcastle Inner City Bypass.
Nelson Bay Road is closed between Richardson Road and Williamtown Drive, and Main Road is closed at Gillieston Heights.
The Illawarra Highway has been closed in both directions as floodwaters smash the Macquarie Pass.
“Eastbound light vehicles can use Jamberoo Mountain Rd, Jamberoo Rd, Terry St, and back to Illawarra Hwy/Tongarra Rd,” a Live Traffic NSW statement read.
“Westbound light vehicles can use Tongarra Rd, Church St, Terry St, Jamberoo Rd, Jamberoo Mountain Rd to Illawarra Hwy.”
In the Greater Sydney area, Richmond and Windsor have recorded more than 180mm of rain since 9am Thursday, leaving St Mary’s Rd and Stoney Creek Rd closed due to severe flooding.
The Sackville Ferry and Lower Portland Ferry are both out of service on Friday morning, as flooding inundated the road.
“Please do not go down Sackville Ferry Rd if you intend on trying to use the ferry,” the Wisemans Ferry Rural Fire Service said in a statement.
The NSW SES Blacktown Unit has urged residents to be cautious after several vehicles tried to drive through flooded areas on Wiseman Ferry Rd at Cattai on Friday morning.
“Floodwaters rise quickly and can be extremely dangerous,” a statement read.
“We can’t stress this enough: never drive through floodwater — it’s not worth the risk.
“Please, turn around and find another way. Your safety comes first.”
Trains disrupted across Sydney
Due to the ongoing wet weather triggering floods across Sydney, there are several disruptions affecting Sydney Trains, Intercity Trains and roads.
“Allow extra travel time,” a Transport NSW statement read.
Supermarket stock levels plummet
Shelves are emptying across the hardest hit areas of the floods, with residents left empty-handed due to blackouts and rapidly rising waters.
Some Coles supermarkets, including Wingham and Kempsey, have temporarily shut their doors due to the flooding.
Extra deliveries will be made to the isolated areas as soon as flooding subsides and the roads reopen.
“We are keeping a close eye on the evolving situation in NSW, and most of our stores remain open for our communities,” a spokesperson told NewsWire.
“Our teams are working hard to ensure we have extra food deliveries on their way to our stores, and have deliveries ready to get into isolated areas as soon as flooded roads reopen, so our communities can be rest assured that we will continue to serve them and we are working to deliveries into stores so we can restock our shelves.”
Dams near breaking point
WaterNSW has warned there is still a risk the Warragamba Dam, which services much of Sydney, could overflow and spill on Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning.
However, a spokesman told NewsWire that the receding rain levels had reduced the likelihood of the dam spilling.
“A spill at Warragamba Dam is now less likely after overnight rain over the catchment came in below the highest forecasts,” they said.
“WaterNSW will continue to monitor dam inflows and rainfall throughout the day and will keep the community updated on any expected impacts on Warragamba Dam.”
Premier Chris Minns said despite the risk of the dam overflowing, no evacuation alerts had been issued in the Hawkesbury region.
However there was still a risk these conditions could change, he warned.
“The truth is 40 per cent of floodwaters don’t come over the top of Warragamba Dam, they come through the Colo, South Creek, Nepean and other river systems on the north of that river end,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.
The Nepean Dam was spilling, the NSW SES confirmed, with warnings issued for Colo, North Richmond and the surrounds as well as Milperra, Liverpool and Tempe Bridge.
“The real risk over the next 24 hours is flash flooding, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible,” Mr Malone said.
“Roads may become cut quickly and without warning.
“We ask the community to remain vigilant and never drive through flooded areas.”
Thousands in the dark as floods trigger power outages
More than 1000 homes and businesses are without power across Boolaroo, Booragul, Cardiff and Macquarie Hills, though Ausgrid estimates electricity will be restored by 9.20am Friday. In Sydney, nearly 3000 homes and businesses are in the dark, with power outages affecting Auburn, Berala and Lidcombe.
Trains have been cancelled in both directions between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on Friday morning as floodwaters impact the tracks at Cockle Creek.
“Limited replacement buses are running,” a NSW Incident statement read.
“Please delay your travel between Morisset and Newcastle Intg.”
Due to flooding at Sandgate, services have also been cancelled for the entire Hunter line, with limited buses replacing trains between Dugong, Scone and Newcastle Interchange.
Four confirmed dead in devastating floodwaters
Moto farmer David Knowles has been identified as the first of four people to have died in the devastating floods.
The 63-year-old’s body was found “ankle-deep” in water on the veranda of his home on North Moto Road, northeast of Taree, about 3pm on Wednesday.
Authorities later said a man – believed to be in his 30s – died in floodwaters near Rosewood, about 4km west of Wauchope.
Police on Thursday evening confirmed the third body was that of a woman in her 60s, who had been travelling between Armidale and Coffs Harbour on Wednesday night when her car became trapped in floodwaters on Morora Rd, Brooklana.
She was travelling in a convoy with a police officer about 7pm, with the officer unable to continue in his sedan when the pair reached ankle-deep flood waters.
Assistant Commissioner David Waddell told reporters the officer had cautioned the woman not to drive through floodwaters, and gave her his phone number in case of an emergency.
The woman continued to drive, before calling the officer 30 minutes later in trouble.
Police were unable to locate her or her vehicle. Her body was found in her 4WD on Thursday.
A fourth person is still missing.
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