Australia’s east coast faces ‘largest flood operation’ in history

SYDNEY: Large parts of the Australian eastern coast state of New South Wales are once again under water after more heavy rain. Emergency services are facing “the largest flood operation in the state’s history”, the Australian broadcaster ABC reported on Tuesday. Emergency workers and volunteers from all over the world - especially from New Zealand, Singapore and the US - are said to be joining the rescue teams.

“We had volunteers from all over the world when it came to fighting forest fires, but as far as I know this is the first time they’ve come for floods. And I want to thank them,” said the state’s premier, Dominic Perrottet. More than 200 people have been rescued from the floods since Monday in the region to the west of the Sydney metropolitan area. Many had taken refuge on the roofs of their houses. Rescue teams were also deployed with helicopters.