Shipping container floats down rural road in Australia after ‘dangerous’ flash floods
- The shipping container was spotted in Molong, one of the inland towns about 300km northwest of Sydney that were cut off on Monday after flash floods
- Data from Australia’s weather bureau showed that some areas had received more than a month’s worth of rain over 24 hours
The country’s fourth major flooding event this year saw wild weather pummel parts of southwest New South Wales and northeast Victoria overnight, bursting river banks and piling on more pain for flood-weary residents.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter the flash flooding was “creating dangerous conditions” and that the federal government was working closely with the states on rescue efforts.
In rural New South Wales, roads, bridges and farms were submerged.
Molong, about 300km (186 miles) northwest of Sydney and home to more than 2,000 people, was one of the towns hit by heavy flooding. Footage on social media showed a shipping container and household items floating down the town centre.
“Almost every shop went under,” Mayor Kevin Beatty told radio station 2GB. He said what appeared to be a shipping container or a caravan was stuck on the highway near the town, making it harder for emergency crews to reach Molong.
Residents in Eugowra, population 800, have been ordered to move to higher ground after officials deemed an evacuation would be unsafe due to flash flooding.