SYDNEY, March 2 (BNA) Sydney braced on Wednesday for serious flash floods as population centers in the far north began a large-scale clean-up after record floods that killed at least 14 people along Australia’s east coast in recent days.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that heavy rain – up to 20 cm (8 inches) – is expected to hit Australia’s largest city and its surrounding areas late Wednesday and Thursday morning.
“In the Sydney area, we have minor to major flood warnings in place,” said meteorologist Dean Naramore.
In the New South Wales town of Lismore, 600km (370 miles) north of Sydney, a fourth death was confirmed on Wednesday as floodwaters drained from homes and researchers knocked on doors.
A police statement said the body of a man in his 70s was found in a flooded apartment.
The body of a man was found floating in a main street earlier on Wednesday.
The population of 28,000 was inundated when the Wilson River peaked on Monday afternoon at its highest level since records began in 1880.
Authorities expect the death toll to rise in Lismore and surrounding areas.
Dozens of suburbs remain under water in Brisbane, Australia’s third most populous city, 750 kilometers (470 miles) north of Sydney, after the river running through its center peaked on Monday.
The state capital of Queensland received 80% of its average annual rainfall in just a few days.
Cleanup efforts are underway and 8,000 volunteers have been recruited for what is known as the Mud Army, which helps those who have been flooded.
Queensland has recorded nine deaths from the flood disaster caused by the low pressure system moving south.
MI