Hundreds of families displaced as Australian state encounters its worst flooding in 5 decades

ANKARA (AA) – Hundreds of families have been displaced by flooding in the Australian state of Victoria, which has seen the worst flooding in five decades, local media said on Friday.

Many people are trapped in areas near the Maribyrnong and Werribee rivers after floodwaters inundated their houses, and authorities are now evacuating them by boats, ABC News reported.

According to state Premier Daniel Andrews, approximately 1,500 people have been displaced, and 4,700 homes have been left without power due to flood damage to the power system.

"This event has well and truly started and will run for a number of days, we won't see peak levels of flood water for quite a while," Andrews was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

Images on social media show flood waters entering houses, shops, and many cars sinking in different areas near rivers.

"The Werribee River has now been put on major flood alert, where we’re likely to see a peak this afternoon around 6:00 pm with major flooding ensuing from around 2:00 pm this afternoon," said State Emergency Service operations officer Tim Wiebusch.

"70 properties will come under threat, along with a local shopping strip," the officer added.

Authorities reported that over 500 houses have been damaged in various areas, and shelter centers have been established for people displaced from affected areas.

On Thursday, officials urged residents of Seymour township, Carisbrook near Bendigo in Victoria, to relocate to safer places as floodwaters rise in the Loddon River.

In New South Wales, the State Emergency Service has issued an evacuation order for residents of the central business district and the town's south, east, west, northeast and northwest to leave the area and shift to evacuation centers.

A flood emergency warning was also issued in some sections of Tasmania, and authorities asked people in Liena to Latrobe, as well as Meander to Hadspen and nearby areas, to take precautions.

Thousands of people were displaced from their homes in July as a result of heavy rain and flooding in New South Wales.

In March, at least 12 people were killed and hundreds of properties were damaged due to heavy flooding.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid​​​​​​