Anticipation of Widespread Flooding, 8 Thousands Displaced Persons in Australia

Sydney More than eight thousand people in New South Wales, Australia, were forced to evacuate amid flood fears that continue to expand. Raised concerns that the levees that hold the Murrumbidgee River flood water will be broken.

"Levees can hold, but it may not," said Deputy Commissioner of the National Disaster Agency, Dieter Geske, the Seven Network and reported by AFP on Tuesday (03/06/2012).

A total of eight thousand people who fled the city comes from Wagga Wagga. In the Murrumbidgee River has reached a height of 10.9 meters, which is the highest level. According to Geske, the level was last achieved in 1844 ago.

"If the levees failed to hold flood water and then water gets into the CBD (central business districts) and other regions in Wagga Wagga, then the citizens should be in the center of the shelter, rather than in their home or in the business center," said Geske.

It is known that the city of Wagga Wagga often hit by severe floods since the 1840s. According to local authorities, residents in the city have been trained in dealing with flood evacuation orders at any time threatening.

"I know where my home - if it overflowed the embankment to the street, it takes a little time to evacuate - so I will flee," said a local resident, Melina Skidmore told ABC television.

Since the last three weeks, three states that exist in eastern Australia hit by floods. Apart from New South Wales, floods also hit rural areas in Queensland and Victoria.

This flood also took the lives. So far, two men were reported killed while trying to cross flooded with their cars. The floods also resulted in the destruction of cotton plantations and wheat, as well as floods swept away hundreds of livestock.

Predicted, flood in the town of Wagga Wagga will achieve the highest level on Tuesday (13/3) next week.

(NVC / nrl)

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