Severe flooding has hit eastern New South Wales, killing at least five people and cutting off over 50,000 residents. The worst-affected areas include the Mid North Coast, Hunter, and North Coast. Floodwaters reached Sydney and parts of the South Coast by Friday.
Four days of non-stop rain broke records for rainfall and river levels. Flash floods and fast-rising rivers caught many off guard. This is the latest in a series of disasters this year, including Queensland floods in February and Cyclone Alfred in March.
🚨🇦🇺 Australia Flood Emergency
🌧️ Half a year’s rain in just 3 days
💀 4 dead, 1 missing
🚁 2,500+ emergency workers deployed
🏚️ 50,000+ stranded
🌊 Rivers still rising — more rain ahead
NSW is in crisis mode as flash floods devastate southeast Australia.
⚠️ Evacuations… pic.twitter.com/8rFZNyLJBJ— The Curious Quill (@PleasingRj) May 23, 2025
Emergency services are overwhelmed. The State Emergency Service (SES), made up mostly of volunteers, has conducted over 700 rescues. In many cases, neighbors rescued each other using small boats. Some people who called for help were not reached in time. One woman, Julie Botfield, said she called both SES and the triple-0 line. When no one came, a friend with a boat rescued her and her two children.
The confirmed deaths from the flooding include a man in his 70s who was swept away near Coffs Harbour, a farmer in Moto who drowned while trying to save his livestock, a woman whose body was found inside her submerged car near Kempsey, and a man near Dungog who went missing during flash flooding and was later found dead.
Floodwaters damaged major roads, including the Pacific Highway. Supermarkets in towns like Taree ran out of essentials like bread and milk. More than 30,000 homes lost power; thousands are still without electricity. Damaged power lines and communication towers have made the situation worse.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a flood-hit area, promising support. But victims say help is too little. Federal aid includes a $900 payment per family and temporary welfare—far from enough to recover losses. Many victims are uninsured due to high costs.
Climate experts say such floods are becoming more frequent. A slow-moving coastal low-pressure system triggered this event. Saturated ground from earlier rains made rivers rise faster. Studies show human-driven climate change is making these events worse.
Despite repeated disasters, governments have not improved planning or response. Poor communities suffer the most. They live in high-risk zones and lack support. Without strong action, extreme weather will keep hitting the same vulnerable groups. Many say this crisis shows the need for better systems, stronger infrastructure, and serious climate policies.
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