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    February 05, 2012

Rising Australian Floodwaters Force Mass Evacuation

   VOA News
   People wade through flood waters in the town of Moree, Northern New
   South Wales, Australia, February 3, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   People wade through floodwaters in the town of Moree, Northern New
   South Wales, Australia, February 3, 2012.

   An entire Australian town has been ordered to evacuate to higher ground
   as rising floodwaters race toward record heights.
   Officials say the 3,800 residents of St. George in Queensland state
   have been ordered to abandon their homes before the only remaining exit
   road is washed out.
   The swollen Baloney River is expected to peak at 15 meters.
   Authorities say patients from the local hospital have been airlifted to
   another facility.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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