Shocking aerial photos reveal town transformed by flooding

Josh Dutton
·News Reporter
·3-min read

Aerial shots of areas in Sydney’s northwest have emerged completely inundated as the state continues to battle heavy rain and ongoing flooding.

On Monday evening, the SES issued an evacuation order for low-lying properties in North Richmond and Agnes Banks due to rising flood water.

NSW Rural Fire Service shared a video of Windsor and Richmond which has been described as resembling “an inland sea”.

Houses are seen covered in water with streets completely hidden below.

A house in Sydney's northwest covered by floodwaters.
A house in Sydney's northwest following three days of rain. Source: NSW RFS

An excavator sits just barely sticking its arm out of flood waters.

“Once the rain stops and the water begins to reside, there will be a massive combined effort to clean up. However until that happens, listen to warnings, follow the NSW SES advice, look out for family, friends and neighbours,” NSW RFS tweeted.

Windsor resident Kelly Miller shows concern as flood waters reach her workplace, a 100 year old property near the Windsor CBD in Sydney.
Windsor resident Kelly Miller looks out the window of her workplace as the water closes in. Source: Getty Images

Nearby Richmond received more than 66mm in the 24 hours leading up to 9am Monday morning and a further 64mm in the 24 hours prior to that according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

And the rain is far from finished. Up to 80mm is forecast to fall in Richmond on Tuesday.

'The worst flooding I've experienced'

So far, 18,000 people have been evacuated with 150 flood rescues overnight to early Monday.

Floods have also closed more than 200 schools.

Flood manager Justin Field said the flooding is some of the worst he has witnessed.

"I've been a flood forecaster in the Bureau for 20 years and this is probably the worst flooding that I've experienced and I've had to forecast," Mr Field said.

"We've got a flood watch that covers all the way from the Queensland border down to the Victorian border - all those coastal rivers.

"My thoughts really go out to those impacted communities and individuals."

More rain to come

Rain is not expected to ease until at least Wednesday on the Mid North Coast, and showers will continue to linger for the rest of the week.

There is a warning of heavy rain likely leading to flash flooding in the Mid North Coast, with BOM adding residents are at serious risk.

Heavy flooding is seen along the Hawkesbury River at the Windsor CBD in Sydney, Australia.
Flooding is seen along the Hawkesbury River at Windsor. Source: Getty Images

Roads are likely to be cut off by water and there is an increased risk of landslips. The BoM warns weather in parts of the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers could be life-threatening.

In the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, Minnie Water, about 50 kilometres from Grafton, recorded rainfall of 256mm.

Yarras Mountain copped 209mm while Kempsey, where the city has been evacuated, received 180mm.

Head of Resilience NSW Shane Fitzsimmons also warned the "extraordinary wet-weather event" was not over yet, and NSW had been devastated by damage and destruction.

with AAP

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