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Deadly Rainstorms Ravage Eastern Australia Deadly Rainstorms Ravage Eastern Australia
(about 11 hours later)
SYDNEY, Australia — At least four people have died and thousands more have been displaced across Australia’s east coast as punishing winds, torrential rains and powerful ocean swells inundated large swaths of the country’s two most populous states. SYDNEY, Australia — At least four people have died and thousands more have been displaced across Australia’s east coast as punishing winds, torrential rains and powerful ocean swells inundated large areas of the country’s two most populous states.
The storm system, which has unleashed floods from north of Brisbane in Queensland state to Sydney over 900 kilometers south in New South Wales and beyond, is the result of a slow but very wet swing down the coast by the remains of Tropical Cyclone Oswald that began last week. The system has dumped record amounts of rain in many areas, isolating dozens of communities and snarling traffic both in the air and on land. The storm system, which has unleashed floods from north of Brisbane in Queensland state to Sydney, more than 500 miles south in New South Wales and beyond, is the result of a slow but very wet swing down the coast by the remains of Tropical Cyclone Oswald that began last week. The system has dumped record amounts of rain in many areas, isolating dozens of communities and snarling traffic in the air and on land.
The floods continue a period of bizarre and destructive weather in Australia, which has been in the grips of a four-month heat wave that shattered records and ignited bush fires large enough to be seen from outer space. The floods continue a period of bizarre and destructive weather in Australia, which has been in the grips of a four-month heat wave that shattered records and ignited bushfires large enough to be seen from outer space.
But now, talk has turned from the punishing heat to the sheets of rain and wind that battered the coast up through the early hours of Tuesday. Winds approaching 100 kilometers per hour hit Sydney, where they churned up huge swells at its famed Bondi beach and drenched the city center. The storm has shattered rainfall records in parts of New South Wales, the Bureau of Meteorology said, although the highest rainfall was recorded about 780 kilometers north of Brisbane, where 1,360 millimeters fell in the three days through Sunday morning. But now, talk has turned from the punishing heat to the sheets of rain and wind that battered the coast up through the early hours of Tuesday. Winds approaching 62 miles per hour hit Sydney, where they churned up huge swells at its famed Bondi Beach and drenched the city center. The storm has shattered rainfall records in parts of New South Wales, the Bureau of Meteorology said, although the highest rainfall was recorded about 500 miles north of Brisbane, where 53.5 inches fell in the three days through Sunday morning.
The city of Bundaberg, which is located about 470 kilometers north of Brisbane, has been particularly hit hard. More than 7,000 residents have been displaced by the rising floodwaters there and at least 1,000 evacuees had to be airlifted from their homes by military helicopter on Monday and Tuesday morning as the streets churned with water. The city of Bundaberg, about 300 miles north of Brisbane, has been particularly hit hard. More than 7,000 residents have been displaced by the rising floodwaters there and at least 1,000 evacuees had to be airlifted from their homes by military helicopter on Monday and Tuesday morning as the streets churned with water.
The floods come two years after flooding in 2011 left at least 38 people dead and caused some $30 billion of damage across the state.The floods come two years after flooding in 2011 left at least 38 people dead and caused some $30 billion of damage across the state.
Queensland’s premier, Campbell Newman, on Tuesday visited the stricken city, where he warned that the floodwaters were threatening to carry away entire buildings.Queensland’s premier, Campbell Newman, on Tuesday visited the stricken city, where he warned that the floodwaters were threatening to carry away entire buildings.
“Listen to the roar of the water - that’s not helicopters,” he said during a televised press conference in the city. “You see a lot of locations where there’s literally rapids, white water out there.” “Listen to the roar of the water — that’s not helicopters,” he said during a televised news conference in the city. “You see a lot of locations where there’s literally rapids, white water out there.”
“Those velocities are what we’re concerned about in terms of taking buildings away,” he added.“Those velocities are what we’re concerned about in terms of taking buildings away,” he added.
The situation was little better in northern New South Wales, where the State Emergency Services estimated some 23,000 people had been isolated by the floodwaters. The state government ordered 2,100 people to evacuate from the regional hub of Grafton, near the border with Queensland, as that city suffered its worst-ever floods.The situation was little better in northern New South Wales, where the State Emergency Services estimated some 23,000 people had been isolated by the floodwaters. The state government ordered 2,100 people to evacuate from the regional hub of Grafton, near the border with Queensland, as that city suffered its worst-ever floods.
All four deaths connected with the storm have been in Queensland, where a three-year-old boy became the latest victim after he was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane on Monday. The others included a motorcyclist whose body was pulled from a creek south of Brisbane and an 81-year-old man whose body was found near Bundaberg. All four deaths connected with the storm have been in Queensland, where a 3-year-old boy became the latest victim after he was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane on Monday. The others included a motorcyclist whose body was pulled from a creek south of Brisbane and an 81-year-old man whose body was found near Bundaberg.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia, the country’s second largest commercial airline after national carrier Qantas, announced on Tuesday that it was canceling dozens of flights across the region, including its services between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne — the three largest cities in the country.Meanwhile, Virgin Australia, the country’s second largest commercial airline after national carrier Qantas, announced on Tuesday that it was canceling dozens of flights across the region, including its services between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne — the three largest cities in the country.
The worst of the winds and rain had passed by Tuesday morning, officials said, and Sydney’s skies had turned blue by mid-afternoon, suggesting that any respite from the blistering heat in both states would be short lived. The worst of the winds and rain had passed by Tuesday morning, officials said, and Sydney’s skies had turned blue by midafternoon, suggesting that any respite from the blistering heat in both states would be short lived.