Sydney: Almost 50,000 people have been isolated by rising floodwaters in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) reported that over 48,800 individuals and 23,200 dwellings have been cut off by flooding in the state's Mid North Coast region, more than 200 km northeast of Sydney.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Mid North Coast and surrounding regions have faced four consecutive days of heavy rainfall, resulting in widespread record-breaking flooding. The SES has issued 109 flood warnings, ordered evacuations across the affected area, and opened evacuation centers. In an update shortly after 5 p.m. local time, the SES mentioned that emergency service crews had completed more than 400 flood rescue operations, deploying helicopters and boats to assist those trapped.

The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has been deployed to assist with air evacuations. SES Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes stated on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that rescue operations would continue into the night, noting the operations' challenging nature. The Manning river in the Mid North Coast surpassed its 1929 record flood level on Wednesday morning.

Natural Hazards Research Australia, the national center for disaster risk reduction, highlighted that the record-breaking flooding along the river had an estimated occurrence frequency of once every 500 years on average. Federal and state governments have activated disaster assistance for residents of 16 local government areas, providing them with support funding for emergency accommodation and essential items.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning shortly after 4:30 p.m. local time, indicating that parts of the Mid North Coast and adjacent Northern Tablelands region could receive up to 300 millimeters of rainfall over the next 24 hours. ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders emphasized that many areas are yet to experience the worst flooding.

In response to the severe conditions, the regional airport in Port Macquarie, located over 300 km northeast of Sydney, has been closed until further notice, and more than 200 schools in the affected areas have been shut.