The death toll in the New South Wales flood disaster has risen to four after a man’s body was found in a car in flood waters near Coffs Harbour on Friday morning.
Police said a passing driver had reported seeing a vehicle that had run off the Orara Way at Nana Glen, about 30km from the mid-north coast city. Officers found the body of a man, believed to be in his 70s. Police said he appeared to be the vehicle’s only occupant.
The bodies of three other people have been found since the flooding: a man found in Rosewood, believed to be in his 30s, who was missing since Wednesday night, a 63-year-old man at a home in Moto, and a 60-year-old woman who was caught in flood water while travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in a four-wheel drive on Wednesday night.
A 49-year-old man who failed to return home after walking near a flooded road at Nymboida was still missing.
“Sadly, there’s a number of people that have lost their lives as a result of this severe weather event and our condolences go out to friends and family of those that have lost their lives,” a NSW State Emergency Service deputy commissioner, Damien Johnston, said on Friday morning.
“There are a number that are still missing as well and that search continues.”
The trough that has battered the region was moving southwards on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology said while this meant rain had eased on the mid-north coast there were still several flood warnings in place and conditions were dangerous.
“Quite a few of those are still seeing flood levels at major classifications and some of those rivers are only falling very slowly,” the BoM’s Jane Golding said.
Heavy rainfall was concentrated over the Central Coast, Sydney and south coast areas on Friday morning, with between 60mm and 100mm falling in the Sydney metro region and 179mm at North Richmond.
The Nepean dam had spilled and Johnston said the Warragamba dam might spill on Friday or Saturday, however that had become less likely.
“We’ll continue to monitor and liaise with the community to make sure you’re aware of impacts that may result,” he said.
“Stay vigilant. Do not drive through flood waters. I thank you for heeding our warnings. The community has worked well with the New South Wales SES. Do not drive, walk, play, do other things with the waters. They are dangerous.”
The SES had performed 177 flood rescues in the past 24 hours and received 535 calls for assistance, he said. More than 150 flood warnings were in place, 40 of those at emergency level, and about 50,000 people were isolated by flood waters.
Johnston advised those going back into an inundated home to be cautious.
“There are many risks that come with flood waters, if your home or premise has been inundated,” he said. “Flood waters have contaminants. There can be vermin – snakes and other vermin as well. So you need to assess those risks. Electricity can also pose a danger as well.”
A priority on Friday was supplying food and essential medications to isolated communities, he said.
On Thursday night the SES there had been more than 5,700 calls for assistance recorded and more than 670 flood rescues, using nine helicopters, 500 boats and ground crew. There were 2,500 personnel, including 2,200 SES members, in the field.
Telecommunications services had been affected by the flooding but the workers had been door-knocking residents.
There were 15 evacuation centres open, including at Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
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Emergency services personnel from Victoria were travelling to NSW on Thursday night to assist in the response, with 24 en route including staff from the Victorian SES, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority.
On Thursday evening the NSW police northern regions commander, David Waddell, announced the third reported death in the floods.
He said the woman, who was yet to be formally identified, was found in Brooklana, west of Coffs Harbour. Her family had been informed.
Police earlier said a body, believed to be that of a man in his 30s missing since Wednesday night, was found near Rosewood on Thursday morning.
The body of a 63-year-old man was found on Wednesday at a home on North Moto Road at Moto.
The 60-year-old woman had travelled with a police officer towards Coffs Harbour at 7pm on Wednesday night until they reached flood waters at Wild Cattle Creek Bridge. The officer was in a BMW sedan and could not continue. The woman was in a 4WD and had decided to continue after the officer checked the water levels, Wardell said.
The woman called 30 minutes later, saying she was in trouble near Brooklana but could not be located. Her vehicle was found at 2pm on Thursday.
Waddell pleaded with people not to enter the flood waters.
“It is a really dangerous, once-in-a-lifetime event, and there’s been some tragedy surrounding this death. Obviously, the police officer who spoke the woman is very traumatised and we’re wrapping support services around him.”
The federal government activated a disaster recovery allowance for people who live or work in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog local government areas, available from 2pm on Monday.
People who have lost income as a direct result of the event may be eligible for up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders. Claims can be made online through myGov or the myGov app.
This is in addition to the joint federal and state disaster recovery funding available across 16 local government areas, which is administered by the NSW government.
Mutual obligation requirements have been suspended for jobseekers in the Hunter region and the mid-north coast until 29 May. The federal government also said people who need to change or pause Centrelink debt payments can do so online or in the mobile app, or by calling 1800 076 07.
