- SYDNEY — Emergency
service authority of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) said on
Saturday that early estimates suggest more than 10,000 properties have been
damaged in floodwaters in the state's eastern regions.
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- The State Emergency Service (SES) Chief Superintendent Paul
McQueen told reporters on Saturday morning that crews would be "out in
force" to start the damage assessment process.
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- "I reiterate this is still a dangerous situation where
significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have
occurred," he said.
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-
- "Unfortunately, it is not possible to let people return
to their homes until water further subsides and we're sure they can access
their homes and communities safely."
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- The NSW Police said in a statement on Friday evening that
rescue officers found a body inside a burnt-out vehicle at a property on the
flood-hit Mid North Coast.
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- It marks the fifth death in the widespread flooding crisis
that has hit the Mid North Coast and surrounding regions following five
consecutive days of torrential rainfall, Xinhua news agency reported.
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- Earlier on May 23, Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns toured the regions north of Sydney that
have been inundated by widespread flooding following five consecutive days of
torrential rainfall.
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- As of Friday afternoon, more than 50,000 people remained cut
off by flooding, and emergency services were continuing to conduct rescue
operations by boat and helicopter.
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- As of Friday afternoon, emergency services had conducted 736
flood rescue operations in total.
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