Sydney in Australia is preparing to deal with the worst floods in decades, following heavy rains that caused the dam to overflow and mass areas to be evacuated.
Emergency services have instructed residents of low-lying areas in some parts of the city to take refuge in a safe place that could be “life threatening” in the state of New South Wales.
Images broadcast on television and social media show flooded houses and streets, fallen trees and extensive damage to road network infrastructure. Emergency services estimate “hundreds” of damaged homes.
Some major highways have been closed in the state, and many schools have canceled classes for Monday.
The Waragaba Dam, which supplies much of Sydney’s drinking water, overflowed Saturday afternoon and is expected to reach water levels since 1961 on the Hawksbury River, according to authorities.
“There is a danger of seeing one of the biggest floods in a long time,” said Meteorological Office official Justin Robinson.
Authorities have already evacuated many areas due to rising water levels and about an additional 4,000 people may be forced to flee their homes in the coming hours.
Those in flood-prone areas “should leave immediately,” said Dean Storey, deputy state commissioner for emergency services.
Many of those who were evacuated from their homes began to gather yesterday in centers in the northern part of the city, as torrential rains fell in the area.
State Prime Minister Gladys Bereziklian has expressed concern about a “once-in-a-century event.”
Bad weather could intensify again Monday in northern Sydney before an improvement later in the week, according to the meteorological services.
The conditions “will continue to be dangerous,” meteorologist Agata Imielska said, predicting further rainfall at record levels in the coming days.
Emergency services have received more than 7,000 phone calls for help and have carried out 650 rescue operations since Thursday. They were forced to seek aid from other states.
Australia is expected to launch the first major phase of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign to a large portion of the population on Monday. Floods could cause delays in the Sydney area.
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