Police have resumed their search for an elderly man who was swept away by flooded waters in the Barnard River on Saturday night, as authorities caution that more heavy rain could cut off parts of New South Wales and Queensland for up to six weeks. Currently, there are flood warnings in place for extensive areas of eastern Australia after a record-breaking rain event. In some parts of inland Queensland, this was the wettest March day in a decade and a half. The NSW State Emergency Service’s Deputy Commissioner, Debbie Platz, has advised communities near the NSW-Queensland border to prepare for possible “long-term” isolation due to the unpredictable weather pattern, which is causing flash flooding in already saturated catchments and bringing in water from Queensland’s river systems.
- No signs of the man who was swept away by the floods while crossing a causeway with his caravan have been found, and more than 20 people remain cut off at a campsite as the police coordinate the search for him.
- Debris from floodwaters have surrounded buildings in Stonehenge, Queensland.
- Weather forecasters predict another system will arrive soon, adding to the impact of two days of heavy rainfall, which caused isolated totals exceeding 100mm in parts of NSW and more than 50mm in various areas of Queensland, with the Sunshine Coast experiencing even more.
- Metro areas, such as Sydney, have seen less rainfall.
- Several major NHS roads remain closed due to flooding, including sections of the Silver City Highway from Broken Hill to the Queensland border.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/30/search-resumes-for-man-missing-in-nsw-flood-waters-as-east-coast-battered-by-intense-rainfall
