Catastrophic floods in Australia: dead and missing!

Catastrophic floods in Australia: dead and missing!

Moto, Australien - Serious floods on the east coast of Australia, especially in the state of New South Wales, already cost a person on May 22, 2025. As vienna.at , the body of a 63-year-old woman was recovered from a flooded building in Moto. A forensic doctor now examines whether there may have been previous illnesses for death.

In addition, three people are on the list of missing people: a 60-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man and a 49-year-old man. Around 330 people had to be brought to safety north of Sydney after the water masses had locked them. Helicopters were used to save those affected by roofs and verands.

unusual weather conditions

The current floods exceed local records from 1929 and Minister for Disaster Protection by New South Wales, Jihad Dib, expressed that the region was confronted with an unexpectedly high amount of rain. Heavy rainfall has fallen since Tuesday, and the weather office forecast is forecasting another 30 cm rain over the next 24 hours. A total of around 50,000 people were warned to prepare for possible evacuations.

This extreme weather situation is based on an increase in extreme weather events, which is dealt with in detail in a new report by Working Group I of the World Climate Council (IPCC). According to wwf climbing surface temperatures and sea levels, which is the frequency of such weather extremes, such as heavy rain, influenced.

climate change as an explanatory approach

The rising temperatures and the associated heating heat mean that natural disasters are no longer rare than more frequent coastal floods. Events that occurred a few decades ago in a century could soon be expected annually. The increase in heavy rain, as it is also visible in the recent floods, has become 1.2 to 9 times more likely and the maximum precipitation has increased by 3 to 19 percent.

scientists warn that human influences, such as soil sealing and river guidelines, also tighten these floods. Ecological solutions, such as the recovery of natural flood areas, could help to avoid such disasters in the future and to improve flood protection.

The current events in Australia are further haunting proof of the need for the need to take measures against the climate crisis and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Governments worldwide should penetrate the expansion of renewable energies and to focus on measures to adapt to the climate changes.