Severe Floods Devastate Australia's New South Wales, Isolating Thousands and Destroying Livestock

Severe floods hit the mid-north coast region of New South Wales in Australia, isolating tens of thousands of residents and causing widespread damage to properties and livestock.

These floods were triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, which caused rivers to burst their banks and submerged towns to dangerous levels.

About 10,000 properties may have been damaged, with floodwaters destroying homes and sweeping away livestock in rural areas like Ghinni Ghinni near Taree.

Farmers in the area have struggled to feed their animals, leading to helicopter air drops of emergency animal feed to those stranded and cut off by the floods.

The New South Wales government has been actively providing emergency support such as fodder, veterinary care, and aerial supplies to aid isolated farmers and their livestock.

At the peak, an estimated 50,000 people were isolated, with floodwaters covering intersections and streets and even submerging cars up to their windshields.

Tragically, five deaths have been linked to the floods, including an elderly man found at a flooded property near Taree.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described conditions as critical in the affected areas as cleanup efforts commenced.

Experts also link these increasing extreme weather events, including floods following droughts and bushfires, to climate change impacting Australia.

The ongoing series of natural disasters since early 2021 has put Australia's infrastructure and agriculture under unprecedented stress.