Tasmania is facing its worst floods in 40 years, and its second largest city, Launceston, has been put on high-alert. Low-lying areas of the city have been evacuated, and up to 4500 people and 3650 homes could be affected by the South Esk River, which is swelling and fit to burst.
Emergency managers are confident that the levees built just last year will hold. Launceston Flood Authority general manager Andrew Fullard said that the levees are built to withstand a “one-in-200-year flood level”.
More than 200 properties have been flooded across the state, and ore than 100 people have been rescued from floodwater by helicopter. Six surfers were rescued by police boat after they attempted to surf off Shouten Island.
There’s some pretty intense footage coming out of the floods too, like this from the City of Launceston:
The floodwater has filled Cataract Gorge.
Cataract Gorge, #Launceston, this afternoon. Somewhere under there is a swimming pool & grass riverbank. #TasFloods pic.twitter.com/i344UNFgP8
— Jamie McKinnell (@jamie86) June 7, 2016
ABC News reports that a woman’s body has been recovered in Northern Tasmania, a day after her husband was rescued through the roof of their flooded home. Mary Kathleen Allford, 75, was unable to be saved.
Service Tasmania is offering up to $750 in assistance per family in emergency aid for those who have lost their homes.
Premier Will Hodgman has described the floods as ‘catastrophic’. “It’s certainly disastrous, this is an extreme weather event, the worst flooding we’ve experienced in this state in 40 years and it’s likely to get worse its likely to cause further damage,” he said.
Stay safe out there, Tasmania.
Source: Nine / ABC News.
Photo: Getty Images.
