SYDNEY, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Residents in parts of Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have been warned by local emergency services, to prepare to evacuate, as heavy rainfall has caused rising water levels.
Floods could displace more than 8,000 people in the rural town, Forbes, about 380 km west of Sydney, and located along the banks of the Lachlan River, which runs through central NSW.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicted that water levels could rise as high as 10.65 metres, slightly higher than the previous major flood event in the area in 2016.
“The situation is likely to change and it can escalate quickly,” said the warning, issued by the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) early today.
It advised residents to pack their cars with essentials and valuables to reduce evacuation times.
The SES also advised residents to leave the area by today, to stay with family or friends, or in evacuation centres that would be temporarily set up.
Local residents have teamed up with emergency personnel and volunteers in setting up sandbags to prepare for the floods.
If the situation worsens, NSW SES would issue a flood evacuation order to impacted residents via text message.
