 Windsor Bridge submerged in western Sydney | |
| Date | 18 March 2021 – 29 March 2021 |
|---|---|
| Location | New South Wales; Mid North Coast, Hunter Valley and Western Sydney Queensland; Logan City and Gold Coast |
| Deaths | 3 dead and 2 missing[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Property damage | A$ 1 billion+ (predicted)[6] |
Extreme rainfall on the east coast of Australia beginning on 18 March 2021 led to widespread flooding in New South Wales, affecting regions from the North Coast to the Sydney metropolitan area in the south. Suburbs of Sydney experienced the worst flooding in 60 years,[7] and the events were described by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as "one in 100-year" flooding. Far-southeast communities in Queensland were also affected by flooding and heavy rainfall, though to a lesser extent than those in New South Wales.
The Australian government declared many parts of the east coast a natural disaster zone after the flooding rains forced 18,000 people to evacuate, in addition to over 1,000 flood rescues.[8] Described as a "prolonged event" by Berejiklian and "dangerous and threatening" by the Bureau of Meteorology, the floods extended from the coastal towns of Taree and Kempsey on Thursday, 18 March, to the populated suburbs of western Sydney by Friday and Saturday.[9]
The floods occurred less than 18 months after Australia was affected by the Black Summer bushfires, impacting many towns still recovering from the previous disaster.[10]
- ^ Body found in upturned ute | 9 News Australia, archived from the original on 25 March 2021, retrieved 24 March 2021
- ^ Body found after man trapped in flooded car | 9 News Australia, archived from the original on 25 March 2021, retrieved 24 March 2021
- ^ Man dies in crash on Sydney's Northern Beaches Archived 23 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Olivana Lathouris from Nine News. 22 March 2021.
- ^ NSW flooding: extreme rain wreaks havoc in NSW in once-in-a-century event Archived 23 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by The Guardian. 22 March 2021.
- ^ Car belonging to missing elderly woman found submerged following NSW floods Archived 26 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Seven News. 26 March 2021
- ^ Insurers forecasting a $1 billion damage bill due to NSW floods Archived 25 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Sky News. 23 March 2021.
- ^ Jose, Jill Gralow, Renju (22 March 2021). "Australia to rescue thousands as Sydney faces worst floods in 60 years". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ House floats downriver in Wingham as dangerous weather system leaves a path of destruction Archived 24 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by ABC News. 20 March 2021
- ^ Parts of Australia declare natural disaster during 'once in 100 years' floods Archived 25 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Jessie Yeung from CNN. 21 March 2021
- ^ NSW flooding: disaster zones declared as 18,000 people evacuated in Sydney and mid-north coast Archived 23 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Michael McGowan and Justine Landis-Hanley from The Guardian. 22 March 2021