Raging floods in Australia: 50,000 impacted amid nonstop rainfall

More than 50,000 people on Thursday were left stranded as torrential rain continued to lash eastern Australia.At least three people are missing, with a 63-year-old found dead in the rural hamlet of Moto, 400 km northeast of Sydney. Authorities dispatched drones, boats and helicopters to rescue the victims, news agency AFP reported citing local authorities.In just two days, some parts of New South Wales got more than four months’ worth of rain. Rivers overflowed, roads were flooded, and many people had to climb onto their roofs to stay safe.“We’ve got a lot of people getting rescued from rooftops and from upper levels of houses,” said emergency chief Byrne as reported by the country's national broadcaster ABC.The town of Taree, 300 km north of Sydney, was hit hard. It got 415 millimeters of rain—more than four times the usual amount for May.In the nearby town of Kempsey, about 20,000 people are stuck with little access to food, water, and medical help. Australia has been dealing with strange and extreme weather in recent months. The Australian National University said sea temperatures were the highest ever recorded in 2024. Warmer oceans can cause more rain and stronger storms.Emergency management minister Kristy McBain warned that the rain isn’t over yet and some rivers may still rise.