WAGGA WAGGA, Australia, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Thousands of Australians were forced out of their homes Sunday as floodwaters rose in New South Wales, authorities said.
Almost a dozen shires in the southwest of the state were declared disaster areas and flood warnings remained in force on 13 rivers, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
More than 1,500 people were evacuated to shelters, and forecasters say heavy rain later in the week will worsen the situation.
Homes in Wagga Wagga were evacuated as the Murrumbidgee River rose. In Coonamble, 1,200 residents were ordered out as the Castlereagh River swelled, the report said.
"In Wagga in particular, with a flood height prediction of around 10 meters [33 feet] and the crest of the levee there at about 9.9, there is a very real possibility that the water may overtop the levee," emergency services spokesman Phil Campbell said. "People do understand that and have accordingly evacuated."
Wagga Wagga Mayor Wayne Geale said it was the worst flooding he had seen in decades. He says several hundred people have left their homes, roads have been blocked, and there has been widespread sandbagging.
"About 300 [people] have left their homes at north Wagga, so it's just a skeleton town at the moment," Geale said.
Coonamble town manager John Griffiths said several hundred people have left their homes, roads have been blocked and sandbags are in place.
Eastern Australia has seen unprecedented rainfall over the winter and spring of this year with flooding in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland states
