Cyclone Brings Floods To Australian Towns

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 9

Cyclone Brings Floods To Australian Towns

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 22. Scores of families quit their houses today along 275 miles of the northern New South Wales coastline as floods rose in the wake of the cyclone which swept in from the sea last night. Gale force winds, torrential rain and rapidly rising rivers are threatening disaster to hundreds of other families now standing by to evacuate. The worst hit areas are the key coastal towns of Lismore and Beilingen, and many smaller seaside resorts between Kempsey, 313 miles north of Sydney, and the Queensland border. Rain and cyclonic winds caused havoc last night and steady rain followed today, as the Sydney weather bureau warned of a “very high" flood danger Last night, 50 persons moved out their belongings at Beilingen with the Ballingen river 4ft above “major flood level" and still rising. Twelve families left their Lismore homes as water from the flood-swollen Richmond river poured through doors and windows. The centre of the cyclone struck the coast near Lismore, 60 miles south of the Queensland border. It swung north-west today through Goondiwindl. in Queensland. 250 miles north-west of Brisbane. Late this afternoon tt was moving very slowly, losing its intensity. and becoming a rain depression. Weather forecasters tn Sydney predict no Immediate relief tor the flooded and threatened areas. Grafton and Beilingen are isolated by road. Floodwaters, feet deep, have cut the Pacific highway and many other roads. Mountainous seas, pounding the coastline, have washed away sections of beaches and battered : fishing fleets. Water is several feet deep in shops and homes at the lower ! end of Lismore and is reported to be rising Sin each hour. Police said today that they 1 expected the position to de- : teriorate within 24 hours when ■ floodwaters from higher up tjif rivers reached coastal towns.

In the Beilingen Valley, a mile from the coast, several farms are ' up to 4ft under water, and cattle ; have been shifted to higher ground. At Grafton police fear a major I flood and emergency plans were i put into operation today. “Things look pretty grim at the moment." the police station

reported “The position is getting worse hourly, but we won’t know what to expect until tonight, when the Clarence river should get the backwash from upstream." At, Crescent Head resort, near Kempsey. 100 holidaying tent dwellers have had their canvas homes ripped to shreds.