Several towns remain cut off by flooding in Western Australia
Sydney, Australia, Jan 8 (EFE).- Several small towns in the Western Australian state remained cut off due to record-breaking flooding, authorities said on Sunday.
Former tropical storm Ellie, which has weakened to cyclone status, brought heavy rains and never-seen-before floods, inundating many roads in the Kimberley region, a sparsely populated area bigger than Paraguay.
The town of Fitzroy Crossing, with around 1,300 inhabitants, is one of the worst affected.
The authorities flew critical supplies—including food, medicine, and bedding—into the region, they said in a statement.
The Fitzroy River peaked at a record height of 15.81 meters at Fitzroy Crossing on Wednesday afternoon, surpassing the historical record of 13.95 meters in 2002.
The river was expected to fall below the flood level of 12.5 meters on Sunday.
Floodwaters have significantly damaged roads and infrastructure in the region, leaving many communities isolated.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Saturday described the floods as “devastating.”
He promised desperately needed support to isolated communities cut off by the heavy flooding.
The natural disaster occurred months after several floods affected the east coast last year, linked to the impact of La Niña.
According to scientists, extreme weather events in Australia, including fires, floods, and droughts, are partly caused by climate change. EFE
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