Body found in floodwaters

A WOMAN’S body has been found in floodwaters near Mudgee as floods overwhelm communities across NSW.

The body is believed to be a 28-year-old woman who had been missing for more than 14 hours after she escaped a vehicle stuck in floodwaters on Sunday night in Gulgong, about 30km north of Mudgee in the state’s Central Tablelands.

Three other occupants of the vehicle were found safe.

Premier Dominic Perrottet re-emphasised that people should not drive through floodwaters.

“You wouldn‘t drive into a bushfire – don’t drive into floodwaters,” Mr Perrottet said. “Not only are you putting your life at risk, but also the lives of our SES volunteers and personnel.”

An intense low pressure system is causing havoc from southeast Queensland to Victoria, bringing flooding rains to soaked towns across the east coast.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke is warning NSW residents to brace for a “very dangerous 48 hours” where “every corner” of the state will be touched by flood risk. “What we are currently experiencing is more flood threats in more communities and locations than at any other time this year,” she said.

“At present, we literally have a flood risk in every corner of the state.”

A low pressure system over Queensland is moving slowly south into northeastern NSW on Monday and bringing a renewed risk of flash flooding.

“The low pressure system may continue to affect the northern and central coasts of NSW on Monday and Tuesday, with the threat of widespread heavy rainfall as well as potential flash flooding and riverine flooding,” the Bureau of Meteorology said on Sunday.