Homes of 85,000 people at risk but rain eases around Sydney
The Hindu
Bureau of Meteorology manager said the weather pattern that brought heavy rain to Sydney has moved off the coast north of the city of 5 million people
Floodwaters had inundated or were threatening the homes of 85,000 people around Sydney on July 6 as rivers started to recede and the heavy rains tracked north of Australia's largest city.
While rain was easing across Sydney, several waterways including the Hawkesbury-Nepean rivers system on Sydney's northern and western fringes remained at major flood levels, Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said.
Emergency responders knocked on doors overnight in the towns of Singleton and Muswellbrook, in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney, to order residents to evacuate, she said.
“For many, it has been a sleepless night,” Ms. Cooke said.
Evacuation orders and official warnings to prepare to abandon homes were given to 85,000 people by Wednesday, up from 50,000 on Tuesday, New South Wales state Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
On the fifth day of the flood emergency, Mr. Perrottet warned that homes that remained dry during previous floods could be inundated this week.
“This event is far from over. Please don't have that past experience inform your current behavior,” Mr. Perrottet said.
Pakistan's ruling PML-N win majority of seats in by-elections for national and provincial Assemblies
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) got the lion’s share in the key by-elections by winning at least two National and 10 provincial Assembly seats, according to the unofficial results