As record-breaking floods isolated far-flung communities in Western Australia state, the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his government’s readiness to provide needed support to residents in the area.
The crisis in the Kimberley was sparked this week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain to the vast region.
Fitzroy Crossing, a town of around 1,300 people where supplies were being airlifted in due to the flooding, was among the worst-hit locations and authorities have now said is the state’s worst on record.
Albanese said his Labor government was “working constructively” with the Western Australia government on the crisis in the sparsely populated region that also includes the resort town of Broome.
Read also: Pakistan PM to co-host climate conference in Geneva
“These floods are having a devastating impact, many of these communities … are communities that do it tough, and the resources simply aren’t there on the ground,” Albanese told reporters in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state.
“My government stands ready to provide whatever support is requested.”
Western Australia emergency authorities said Australian Defence Force aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en-route to help relocated impacted residents.
The nation’s weather forecaster said severe weather was no longer occurring in the state but that “the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary”.
The emergency in the country’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 last year.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
