A frenetic weather system that sent southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) a week of more than a year’s worth of rainfall has led to widespread destruction, displacing thousands of people across the states and sweeping away property, livestock and roads.
A total of 17 people have died since the flooding began, including a Queensland woman whose body was found on Saturday, police said.
The NSW Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the new weather system could cause another round of heavy rainfall in New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, raising the risk of flooding.
“Unfortunately, we have a few more days of ongoing rainy, stormy weather ahead of us that will be very dangerous for the people of New South Wales,” BOM meteorologist Jane Golding said at a televised briefing.
In northern New South Wales, the Clarence River remained at severe flooding levels, but Golding said severe weather was likely to clear from Wednesday.
In Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, and surrounding areas, which were hit by a massive hurricane last weekend that flooded several thousand homes, cleanup continued over the weekend.
The recovery process will take months, authorities said on Sunday, with more than A$2 million (about $1.5 million) donated to various charities.
“The event, which lasted only three days, will have a big impact on our economy and our budget,” Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said at the briefing.