NSW:Airlifting underway in flooded north NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2012
NSW:Airlifting underway in flooded north NSW

Thousands of people are being evacuated from northern NSW, with helicopters descending
on the region to airlift hundreds to safety.

About 16-hundred residents in Moree and 80 people in nearby Biniguy have been ordered
to leave their homes immediately as the Mehi and Gwydir rivers continue to rise to levels
not seen since the 1970s.

Meanwhile a major operation is underway at Pallamallawa, with helicopters airlifting
600 trapped residents to safety.

The SES says the Mehi River at Moree is expected to exceed 9.5 metres around 3pm (AEDT)
today and peak around 10.3 metres by 9am tomorrow.

Residents are being advised to evacuate to south Moree where evacuation centres have
been set up at the town hall and the PCYC centre.

Up to 260 residents at Croki and Manning Point have also been warned to prepare to
evacuate as the Manning River continues to rise.

That evacuation order is likely to be put out later today.

The north has been hammered by 250mm of rain overnight, with the town of Wee Waa now
completely isolated and about two and a half thousand residents there will be monitored
through regular food and supply drops.

AAP RTV ih/jjs/crh

KEYWORD: FLOODS NSW (SYDNEY)

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