The Australian city of Sydney has been hit by its heaviest rain in 30 years, bringing flooding and travel chaos and forcing thousands from their homes.
Some rural areas received more rain in recent days than they had in the entirety of the past year – a startling and swift turnaround from the bushfires that have killed 33 people and ravaged large parts of the east coast.
The state weather agency said 391.6mm of rain had fallen in the past four days, and warned of potentially life-threatening flash floods.
Flood water inundate a road in Dalby, Queensland, Australia, 10 February 2020. Flood water has started to recede after Myall Creek which runs through the town broke its banks on 09 February, after heavy rain. EPA-EFE/DAN PELED
About 100,000 homes have also been left without power.
But the rains have put out two of the biggest bushfires which have torn through New South Wales in past months.
The Currowan fire had burned for 74 days around the town of Shoalhaven, destroying nearly 500,000 hectares and 312 homes.
A man films sea foam brought by waves after heavy rain and storms at Collaroy in Sydney, Australia, 10 February 2020. Waterlogged parts of New South Wales are suffering their worst floods in years with heavy rains and damaging winds forecast to lash the state again today. EPA-EFE/JOEL CARRETT
Parts of northern and inland NSW, along with southern Queensland, have been in drought since 2016, severely reducing river and dam levels while also creating the tinder-dry conditions that have fueled this season’s deadly bushfires.
