As extensive rain continues to cause serious flooding issues in large parts of New South Wales and Victoria, there comes a grim reminder to us all of the dangers of attempting to drive across swollen creeks.
The body of a 43-year-old man has been retrieved after he was swept away by floodwaters near Araluen, south of Braidwood, in southern New South Wales. He and two friends had been trying to drive across Majors Creek in a 4WD on Saturday night when they were swept from their vehicle. Two men were rescued from trees further downstream and taken to hospital suffering hypothermia. The body of the third man was found on Sunday morning.
In the Riverina city of Wagga Wagga, two adults and three kids had to be were rescued after they drove into floodwaters and became trapped in their car.
SES Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch appealed to people not to put their lives or those of emergency service personnel in danger by attempting to enter floodwaters.
“I am appealing – in the strongest possible way – for people in affected areas to use their brains,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “You know it’s flooding but we still have people who don’t think and try to cross flooded areas. If water is covering a road or a bridge you have no idea of the hidden hazards. It’s not just foolhardy – it is deadly.”
Meanwhile, Wagga Wagga is bracing itself for major flooding. The Murrumbidgee River is expected to reach major flood levels shortly and hundreds of residents have already been evacuated.
In the state’s central west, the town of Forbes is preparing for one of its biggest floods since 1990. Residents of 230 properties will be asked to leave their homes today before the Lachlan River peaks at major flood levels tomorrow.
The ABC reports that some 70% of New South Wales is flooded or under threat of floods after days of heavy rain. Parts of Gundagai, in the state’s south, have been inundated and further major flooding is expected at Bourke with the Darling River set to peak at 13.8 metres.
The towns of Leeton, Narrandera and Griffith are isolated after unprecedented rain.
At time of writing, the Newell Highway is closed between Narrandera and West Wyalong, and the Sturt Highway is closed between Narrandera and Wagga Wagga.
