NSW Floods Kill Five, Isolate 32,000, Helicopters Deliver Supplies

In New South Wales, Australia, severe flooding caused by days of incessant rain has resulted in five deaths, isolated around 32,000 residents, and damaged an estimated 10,000 properties, particularly in the mid-north coast region. Helicopters have been used extensively to drop emergency animal feed, with 43 helicopter drops and about 130 additional deliveries by other means, to support stranded farmers and their livestock. The state government is also providing veterinary care, management advice, and assistance with the disposal of deceased or unwell animals to prevent environmental and health risks. Despite floodwaters beginning to recede, clean-up efforts are ongoing amid critical conditions, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighting the severity of the situation. These floods are part of a broader trend of increasingly extreme weather events in Australia, which experts link to climate change following recent droughts and bushfires. Authorities continue to support affected farming communities through a coordinated emergency response involving aerial supply drops and veterinary services.