Thousands Cut Off By Floodwaters in Australia

Thousands of Australians have been cut off by floodwaters in the last two days as heavy rain sent river levels soaring across the country's east, leaving isolated farmers dependent on air drops for supplies.

The country's new disaster comes a year after devastating floods across all four of Australia's eastern states. Rescue workers said river levels in some areas were again hitting levels not seen for half a century.

Flood warnings were in place for dozens of rivers in New South Wales and Queensland on Saturday, with some reaching flood levels above 13 meters.

In the worst affected region, in northern New South Wales, the town of Moree has been cut off by floodwaters.

[Phil Campbell, State Emergency Service]:
"It is the worst flooding seen there for around 50 years."

Rooftop rescues and air drops by helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have been underway, with residents sometimes fighting for space with deadly snakes also trying get to high ground to avoid drowning.

Government officials have issued a string of evacuation warnings in the last few days as the water levels continued to rise across the region.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has predicted flooding will continue for days or even weeks in some areas.