Western Australia has been hit by the worst floods in a century leaving many communities isolated. Australia’s weather forecaster on Sunday told severe weather system Ellie has created an emergency situation in Kimberly, in the state of western Australia which is equivalent to the size of California.
Even as the ex-cyclone moved eastward into the Northern Territory on Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology cautioned that “record breaking heavy flooding” was still occurring in the Kimberley. “Many roads are impassable and many communities are now isolated,” the forecaster said on its website.
Residents of several tiny villages, including the tourist town of Broome, located some 1,240 miles (2,000 km) north of the state capital, Perth, have been cautioned by state emergency officials about increasing water in the area. According to officials, the flooding is the worst the state has ever experienced, and on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “devastating” and promised help from the federal government.
Authorities stated on Saturday that Australian Defense Force planes were being utilised to assist flood-affected areas and that Chinook helicopters were on their way to assist with resident relocation.