Monitoring Desk
CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese on Saturday said his government was ready to provide whatever support was required to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking flash floods isolated far-flung communities of the state.
The flood crisis in the Kimberley – an area around three times the size of the United Kingdom (UK) – was sparked this week by acute weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that caused heavy rain to the vast region.
The worst-hit localities included Fitzroy Crossing, a town of nearly 1,300 people where supplies were being airlifted in due to the flash flooding, which authorities have said is the worst on record of the state.
Government of Australia providing supplies
Albanese said his government was “working constructively” with the Western Australian government on the flood crisis in the sparsely populated region, including Broome’s resort town.
“These flash floods have a devastating impact, many of these far-flung communities … are communities that do it tough, and the resources simply are not available on the ground,” Albanese told media in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state. “My government stands ready to offer whatever support is required.”
Western Australia emergency officials said Australian Defence Force aircraft were being used to help flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en-route to assist relocated impacted residents.
The nation’s weather forecaster said the severe weather system was no longer occurring in the Western Australian state but that “the weather situation will be monitored, and will issue further warnings if required.”
The emergency in Australia’s far northwest comes after frequent flooding in Australia’s east over the last two years due to a multi-year La Nina weather event, typically associated with increased rainfall. Some regions have endured four major flood crises since the previous year.
