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More Australia Flood Evacuations Possible as Rains Remain Heavy

Reuters

   SYDNEY - Australian authoritiessaid Tuesday thatmore evacuation orders
   may be issued as relentless rains pummeled the country's east coast,
   with several regions in Sydney's west facing the worst floods in half a
   century.

   The wild weather system pounding New South Wales (NSW) over the last
   three days was expected to gather more strength in the next 24
   hoursthanksto the combination of a tropical low over northern Western
   Australia and a coastal trough off the east.

   "Overnight, unfortunately, some weather conditions have worsened, and
   those weather conditions are likely to worsen during the day so many
   communities will experience increasing heavy rainfall," NSW Premier
   Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.

   Berejiklian said 15,000 more residents may need to be evacuated soon
   after authorities moved 18,000 to safe zones Monday.
   Severe flooding in Sydney, March 22, 2021.

   With 38 disaster areas declared in the state, authorities Tuesday
   described the next 24 hours as critical, as fast-moving flood
   watersoverflowedriverbanks and inundated houses, farms and bridges
   across large swathes of the state.

   Though the weather system is likely to start easingstartinglate
   Wednesday, officials warnedthatresidents may not be able to return to
   their homes immediately as incessant rains dump more water in river
   catchment areas.

   "Some of you may be wondering why you can't go back home because it's a
   sunny day. It's because conditions are unsafe for that to occur,"
   Berejiklian said.

   Neighboring Queensland was also bracing for heavy showers Tuesday in
   the southern parts of the state, with the weather system expected to
   shift south to parts of Victoria and the island state of Tasmania over
   the next few days.

   About10 million people in all states and territories except Western
   Australia will be affected by the extreme weather, the weather bureau
   said, with NSW and Queensland expected to bear the brunt of the system.

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