Famous for its scenic beaches, the Australian holiday resort of Byron Bay has severe flooding today as a result of severe storms that swept across the country’s east coast.
The torrential rains have not stopped since Monday, with more than 250 mm of rain falling in the area in 24 hours. Many businesses in downtown Byron Bay were forced to close after rising waters made traffic impossible. Nearby, in the town of Stoneville, 420 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours.
This morning, thousands of people had to leave their homes to seek refuge in the higher elevations.
Eastern Australia has been grappling with severe weather for weeks, fueled by La Niña and climate change. In early February, at least 22 people died in floods caused by record rains. Emergency services in Lismore, where the water rose to 14.3 meters last month, confirmed the seawall had broken again this morning.
According to forecasts, the water level in the city may reach 11.4 meters this week, complicating clean-up work.
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