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NSW floods: residents stranded ‘awaiting rescue since 1am’ as unprecedented flooding hits NSW mid-north coast | NSW floods: residents stranded ‘awaiting rescue since 1am’ as unprecedented flooding hits NSW mid-north coast |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two days of heavy rainfall still on way as SES carries out 130 rescues amid flooding along Manning River in Taree and nearby areas | Two days of heavy rainfall still on way as SES carries out 130 rescues amid flooding along Manning River in Taree and nearby areas |
Residents of the mid-north coast of New South Wales have described anxious waits for rescue in the dark as unprecedented flooding inundates homes and businesses across the region. | Residents of the mid-north coast of New South Wales have described anxious waits for rescue in the dark as unprecedented flooding inundates homes and businesses across the region. |
The State Emergency Service has warned another 200mm of rainfall was predicted to fall in the next 24-48 hours. It has performed 284 rescues in the past 24 hours, the bulk of those in Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne, and now has nine helicopters working the area. | |
The NSW emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, said 150 of those rescues had occurred since midnight. | |
The premier, Chris Minns, said priority was being given to people stranded on roofs or in other dangerous situations. | |
Glenthorne resident Jordan Halloran gave the ABC an eyewitness account of flooding that had left her stranded on the top level of her house with her partner and two-year-old son. | Glenthorne resident Jordan Halloran gave the ABC an eyewitness account of flooding that had left her stranded on the top level of her house with her partner and two-year-old son. |
“It’s about probably 600 [cm] off coming into the top level of our house. The main concern is our 2-year-old son who is here with us and two dogs. Even more of a priority is our neighbour’s house which is about to be inundated with water,” she said. | “It’s about probably 600 [cm] off coming into the top level of our house. The main concern is our 2-year-old son who is here with us and two dogs. Even more of a priority is our neighbour’s house which is about to be inundated with water,” she said. |
“We’re awaiting rescue since 1am. They said the only way to get us out is with a chopper and there aren’t any. We do feel there’s access through the back of the house. That’s much calmer…” | “We’re awaiting rescue since 1am. They said the only way to get us out is with a chopper and there aren’t any. We do feel there’s access through the back of the house. That’s much calmer…” |
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Halloran said the amount of water exceeded what she had experienced during floods in the town in 2021. | Halloran said the amount of water exceeded what she had experienced during floods in the town in 2021. |
Just before noon, the Halloran family was rescued. Sam Halloran posted video on Facebook of a NSW police helicopter crew coming to their aid, and wrote: “We are now all out and safe including our two doggos”. | |
The Manning River at Taree is flooding at levels not seen before, surpassing the 1929 record of six metres on Wednesday morning and rising, the SES said. | The Manning River at Taree is flooding at levels not seen before, surpassing the 1929 record of six metres on Wednesday morning and rising, the SES said. |
Taree resident Holly Pillotto spoke to Nine’s Today from the upper level of her home where she had been stranded since Tuesday night. | Taree resident Holly Pillotto spoke to Nine’s Today from the upper level of her home where she had been stranded since Tuesday night. |
“Our neighbours on the back verandah here are also stranded,” she said. “It’s a really dangerous spot to be … we do really just want to get some rescue squad out here, and get it happening now that it’s daylight.” | “Our neighbours on the back verandah here are also stranded,” she said. “It’s a really dangerous spot to be … we do really just want to get some rescue squad out here, and get it happening now that it’s daylight.” |
The NSW SES commissioner, Mike Wassing, told a media conference the slow-moving rain system had travelled through the Hunter, mid-north coast and was beginning to head towards the north coast. | |
He said SES efforts were currently focused on south Taree, Glenthorne and Coffs Harbour. | |
“We’ve got significant numbers of helicopters, nine helicopters in total, who are working in that area, and we [will] supplement that as necessary if we need to,” Wassing said. | |
He said there were 44 rescue teams active in the area made up of SES crews and other agencies. | |
“At the moment, there have been situations overnight where we’re unable to access people, either by air or through water,” Wassing said. | |
Dib said: “For those people who are waiting to be rescued, we know that this takes time we are working on it is an absolute priority to get you there.” | |
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The weather bureau warned of “lots of flooding to come” after intense rain caused the Manning River to rise to its highest level in almost 100 years. | |
A Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist, Dean Narramore, forecast 50mm to 150mm rainfall in parts of the state north of Forster on Wednesday, with isolated falls in excess of 200m possible. | |
Narramore said some areas had been inundated by 300mm to 400mm of rain – the town of Taree even more – causing widespread flash flooding and major river flooding. | |
He said the rain would not ease until the weekend. | |
“[There are] still two days of rainfall on the way, with lots of flooding to come.” | |
Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Kempsey, Sawtell, Dorrigo, Barrington Tops, Wingham and Yarrowitch were in line for more rain. | Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Kempsey, Sawtell, Dorrigo, Barrington Tops, Wingham and Yarrowitch were in line for more rain. |
Locals around the Manning river were warned to evacuate on Tuesday evening. | |
By Wednesday morning the river was at a level “never seen before” at Taree, , the SES said . | By Wednesday morning the river was at a level “never seen before” at Taree, , the SES said . |
In one of the more significant incidents overnight, 24 people were rescued from the flooded Pacific Highway at Ghini Ghini. | In one of the more significant incidents overnight, 24 people were rescued from the flooded Pacific Highway at Ghini Ghini. |
In the state’s Hunter region, the Myall River is among the areas on flood watch, with residents warned to monitor forecasts and rainfall and be ready to move to higher ground. | In the state’s Hunter region, the Myall River is among the areas on flood watch, with residents warned to monitor forecasts and rainfall and be ready to move to higher ground. |
For Ray, a cleaner at Bulahdelah’s Plough Inn Hotel, the rising river has already caused damage. | For Ray, a cleaner at Bulahdelah’s Plough Inn Hotel, the rising river has already caused damage. |
“My houseboat went,” he said. “I was looking across the jetty [Tuesday] morning and it wasn’t there. It’s the icing on the cake, [the weather has been on and off for the last couple of weeks.” | “My houseboat went,” he said. “I was looking across the jetty [Tuesday] morning and it wasn’t there. It’s the icing on the cake, [the weather has been on and off for the last couple of weeks.” |
Catie McLeod contributed to this report | Catie McLeod contributed to this report |