SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES – Floodwaters Sweep Away Woman in NSW as Wild Weather Hits Australia A search is ongoing for a 26-year-old woman who was dragged away by strong currents in floodwaters in the Hunter region of New South Wales.
The incident occurred on Saturday night when the woman and her 27-year-old driver were traveling in a Mini car that became stuck in the floods north of Cessnock.
The driver managed to escape, but the passenger was swept away.
Police said the women were visiting the Hunter from Sydney and had decided to return home due to concerns about flooding in the area.
“It’s a tragic circumstance and a dire situation in terms of a warning for community members,” Hunter Valley Police Superintendent Steve Laksa said.
In a separate incident, a 40-year-old man was rescued by State Emergency Service (SES) crews after being stuck in a nearby tree due to floodwaters.
The man was swept out of the tree but was pulled to shore by rescuers and taken to hospital.
Emergency services face “hectic” conditions, with tens of thousands of households in New South Wales spending the night without power due to heavy rain, floods, and unprecedented snow.
The NSW SES responded to more than 1,455 call-outs related to rain, thunderstorms, and snow.
“It has been a very hectic period for our wonderful NSW volunteers, and we’ve had over 1,300 of them out and about, responding predominantly around the mid-north coast area,” said Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz.
Meanwhile, Western Australia is experiencing high winds and storms, with nearly 20,000 homes left without power in Perth on Sunday.
Authorities have warned surfers, fishers, swimmers, and boating enthusiasts to stay clear of the coast due to dangerous swells.
Residents in some parts of Taree on the mid-north coast have been asked to evacuate due to flooding, while warnings are in place for the Peel and Namoi Rivers at Tamworth, Manilla, and Gunnedah.
Authorities are urging people to stay at least eight meters away from fallen power lines, power poles, and damaged electricity equipment.
The public is advised to exercise extreme caution and stay informed about the latest weather updates.