Western Australia in grip of devastating flood emergency, Albanese says
Crisis sparked by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain to the region
08 January 2023 - 18:40
byAGENCY STAFF
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Flooding in Fitzroy Crossing, Australia, January 3 2023. Picture: CALLUM LAMOND/REUTERS
Sydney — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday his government was ready to provide whatever support was needed to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking floods isolated far-flung communities there.
The crisis in the Kimberley — an area almost three times the size of the UK — was sparked this week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain to the vast region.
Among the worst-hit locations was FitzRoy Crossing, a town of about 1,300 people where supplies were being airlifted in due to the flooding, which authorities have said is the state’s worst on record.
Albanese said his Labor government was “working constructively” with the Western Australia government on the crisis in the sparsely populated region that also includes the resort town of Broome.
“These floods are having a devastating impact, many of these communities ... are communities that do it tough, and the resources simply aren't there on the ground,” Albanese told reporters in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state.
“My government stands ready to provide whatever support is requested.”
Western Australia emergency authorities said Australian Defence Force aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en route to help relocated affected residents.
The nation’s weather forecaster said severe weather was no longer occurring in the state but that “the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary”.
The emergency in the country’s far northwest comes after frequent flooding in Australia’s east over the past two years due to a multiyear La Nina weather event, typically associated with increased rainfall. Some regions have endured four big flood crises since 2022.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Western Australia in grip of devastating flood emergency, Albanese says
Crisis sparked by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain to the region
Sydney — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday his government was ready to provide whatever support was needed to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking floods isolated far-flung communities there.
The crisis in the Kimberley — an area almost three times the size of the UK — was sparked this week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain to the vast region.
Among the worst-hit locations was FitzRoy Crossing, a town of about 1,300 people where supplies were being airlifted in due to the flooding, which authorities have said is the state’s worst on record.
Albanese said his Labor government was “working constructively” with the Western Australia government on the crisis in the sparsely populated region that also includes the resort town of Broome.
“These floods are having a devastating impact, many of these communities ... are communities that do it tough, and the resources simply aren't there on the ground,” Albanese told reporters in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state.
“My government stands ready to provide whatever support is requested.”
Western Australia emergency authorities said Australian Defence Force aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en route to help relocated affected residents.
The nation’s weather forecaster said severe weather was no longer occurring in the state but that “the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary”.
The emergency in the country’s far northwest comes after frequent flooding in Australia’s east over the past two years due to a multiyear La Nina weather event, typically associated with increased rainfall. Some regions have endured four big flood crises since 2022.
Reuters
MIKE MULLER: Learn from others’ mistakes to keep Gauteng’s taps flowing
GARTH NAPIER: Climate change among top threats to non-life insurance industry
Floods in West and Central Africa kill hundreds, submerge farmlands
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Australia beefs up laws to protect Aboriginal heritage sites
MICHAEL BLEBY: Noodle diplomacy: the easing of Australian and Chinese ...
Residents evacuate after flash floods in Australia
Australia to end Covid emergency response
Australia aims to change privacy rules after huge cyberattack on telecom firm
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.