Storms and floods in Australia by Nina Ridge
A major storm has battered Australia’s east coast for the past three days killing 9 people and causing the worst flooding in the Hunter area, New South Wales for 30 years.
Continuous heavy rain caused severe and widespread flash flooding in the town of Maitland, in the Hunter Valley, cutting off roads and farms. Around 5000 people were evacuated from Maitland due to fears of the Hunter River swelling and breaking its banks.
105,000 homes remain without power in Hunter Valley, Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast area.
Up to 300mm (12 inches) of rain has fallen in parts of the Hunter region since Thursday, and 200mm (8 inches) was received in the Central Coast and Sydney.
Floodwaters are now beginning to ease but many residents are still unable to return to their homes. The worst of the rain is over as the storms move out across the sea, with just a few scattered showers affecting the coast.
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