Elderly woman becomes fourth casualty of floods after drowning in home
The body of an elderly woman who drowned in floodwaters in Tasmania has been found in her home, bringing the death toll of the storm to four with three people still missing.
Mary Kathleen Allford, 75, was reported missing after her husband was winched to safety when their Latrobe home was inundated with water on Monday.
The town of Latrobe has been inundated with floodwater. Mary Allford was found dead in her Latrobe home on Tuesday. Photo: Tas Police
On Tuesday police said search and rescue crews had found Mrs Allford's body after the water inside her home had subsided.
Her death became the fourth casualty of the floods, after two bodies were found in separate cars in New South Wales and another man's body was recovered from a river in Canberra.
Latrobe mayor Peter Freshney said the town had never witnessed a disaster on this scale.
"We are dealing with a unique experience, a one-off in our terms. We are in uncharted waters," he told ABC News.
Grave fears are being held for three people missing in the floods, including two elderly men in Tasmania.
An 81-year-old man was swept into an overflowing river from his backyard, only 20 metres from his home.
Hoblers Bridge Road in Launceston becomes submerged. Photo: ABC News
The Westpac rescue helicopter searches for a man after he was swept from his property in Ouse. Photo: ABC News
The farmer was attempting to save his sheep from rising water when he was swept away, leaving his wife watching on in horror.
Another man was in his car when it was caught in floodwaters in Evandale, south-east of Launceston.
The man's female companion was rescued by helicopter, however the man and his vehicle are yet to be found.
The search for a man feared drowned in Bondi resumed at first light on Tuesday morning.
Witnesses said the man had jumped into the wild seas from rocks near the Icebergs swimming pool at Bondi beach and struggled to resurface before he disappeared.
More than 500 SES workers are attending to cries for help from Tasmanian residents.
Suburbs around Launceston have been evacuated and 10 flood warnings remain in place for rivers around the state.
Homes and vehicles were swamped with water in Fourth Valley. Photo: Twitter/Jackie Cullen
Pumping Station Road in Fourth Valley was completely submerged by floodwaters. Photo: Twitter/Jackie Cullen
Homes have been left without power and more than 100 roads have been closed.
The Spirit of Tasmania, the ferry between Tasmania and Victoria, has been cancelled in the wild weather, leaving officials unsure of when it will resume operations.
“It’s hard to know when that will be," a Spirit of Tasmania spokesperson told the Herald Sun.
Police revealed 107 people have been rescued from flood-inundated properties by helicopter.
Farmers in central Tasmania said they have lost "quite a few hundred" sheep in the rising water.
The floods are the worst to hit the island state in 90 years, prompting the Tasmania government to organise financial aid for families who have lost their homes.
The North Esk River has swollen and covered a portion of Johnstons Road in Norwood, Launceston. Photo: ABC
Up to $750 per family with be given, with adults to receive $200 and children $100 each to help with necessities.
Emergency services are urging residents to stay out of floodwaters and away from beaches.
Evacuation centres have been set up in Devonport, Wynyard, Deloraine and New Norfolk.
News break – June 7
