Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate as heavy rains smashed Australia's east coast yesterday, submerging towns and stranding residents on rooftops, with authorities warning of life-threatening flash floods.
Nine people have been killed since the deluge began last Thursday, and rescue teams were searching yesterday for at least four people reported missing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who called the unprecedented rains a "weather bomb," said defense personnel would be deployed to flood-hit areas to lead both rescue and recovery operations.
Australia's weather bureau said flash flooding remained a real risk in northern New South Wales state as the wild weather moved south from neighboring Queensland.
"What we are seeing today is unprecedented and the advice that we have received is we would expect things to get worse," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet told a televised briefing.
