Australia Floods Leave 4 Dead, 50,000 Stranded Amid Climate Concerns

The death toll from severe flooding in southeastern Australia rose to four on Friday after emergency workers found a man’s body in a car submerged by floodwaters near Coffs Harbour, about 550 km north of Sydney. The discovery follows three days of continuous heavy rain that has isolated around 50,000 people, destroyed homes, and swept away livestock, according to emergency officials.

At least one person remains missing since the heavy downpours began earlier in the week. Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner of New South Wales, Damien Johnston, warned people to be cautious: “Floodwaters have contaminants, there can be vermin, snakes… so you need to assess those risks. Electricity can also pose a danger.”

Widespread Damage and Disrupted Access

Drone footage and media reports show widespread flooding in streets, sunken vehicles, and swollen rivers in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had planned to visit the severely affected town of Taree but had to cancel due to road blockages. “We did try… but that was not possible due to the circumstance, which I’m sure people understand,” he said in Maitland. “We’re here to say, clearly and explicitly — you’re not alone.”

The floods have also caused pollution and damage along the coast, with dead animals and debris washing up on beaches. Researchers like Davide Faranda from ClimaMeter say that climate change is making such extreme weather more frequent: “What once were rare downpours are now becoming the new normal — climate change is rewriting Australia’s weather patterns, one flood at a time.”

Transport Chaos and Dam Warnings

A strong weather system dumped four months’ worth of rain in just three days. Sydney faced flight delays after two of its three airport runways were briefly closed due to strong winds. Train services, including the airport rail link, were delayed because of water on the tracks. Authorities are closely monitoring the Warragamba Dam, which supplies most of Sydney’s drinking water and is at 96% capacity. Emergency workers continue to help affected communities and assess the damage.