Thousands evacuated after storms hit Australia – VG

The Meteorological Agency has issued flood warnings in several places in the Australian state of New South Wales, forcing 17,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The Guardian writes.

The rains, which are expected to continue next week, are the most extensive experienced by the government in March.

Emergency services received more than 3,000 phone calls and carried out more than 300 rescue operations overnight.

Heavy rain fell in the area from 9 a.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. More than 300 millimeters of rain fell in many places.

In Sydney, as well as parts of the East Coast, many sporting events have been canceled due to heavy rainfall, which is known as tropical rain.

– Whip on face

VG reporter Nut Arne Hansen lives in Sydney and has experienced the storm up close.

– When it rains, it hits windows and roofs, and if you go out boldly the rain hits you in the face. This is in stark contrast to last year’s wildfire, which was the hottest and record dry, he says.

As the severe storm is expected to continue until next week, nine evacuation centers have been set up in the state, seven on the central-north coast and two in the Hunter region. The ABC website writes.

– We want to make sure we provide good information to our residents, but the most important thing at this point is that people respond to eviction orders. New South Wales Governor Gladys Periglion told the website that emergency services were doing everything they could to predict what would happen in the next few hours.