Australian authorities have ordered evacuations due to flooding in Sydney and around the city, caused by several days of heavy rain.

Officials reported 28 rescue operations in 24 hours in the eastern state of New South Wales, triggered by people driving through flooded roads.

A dozen evacuation orders have been issued for low-lying neighborhoods in Sydney's northwestern suburbs and other parts of New South Wales, the emergency services said.

She also warned about 20 other at-risk areas of the state to prepare to evacuate or be ready to isolate as rivers rise.

Rainfall has eased, but rivers are overflowing with rainwater both inland and in central coastal New South Wales, the state Bureau of Meteorology said.

Record downpours hit Sydney

The city of Sydney has already recorded its wettest year since 1858. Flooding on the east coast of Australia in March, which devastated parts of the states of Queensland and New South Wales, claimed more than 20 lives.

In July, tens of thousands of Sydney residents were ordered to evacuate after floods again inundated the outlying suburbs.

floods

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