Heavy rain causes further flooding in Australia, but helps to ease drought.
Residents of the town of Emerald, Queensland continue to face devastation caused by heavy rain and flooding. Over than 2500 residents are still unable to return to their homes, with 280 households placed on evacuation stand by. Although the nearby Nogoa River has stopped rising, the water levels remain unsettlingly high, and officials are keeping a close eye on it over the coming days.
The heavy rain has been welcomed in New South Wales, where over the last month the above average rainfall has helped to ease the ongoing drought. Figures show a big improvement in the drought affected area, with 52% of the state now drought declared as opposed to 93% at the same time last year.
The state has already distributed around $73000 US dollars in emergency flood assistance, and for many the worst may not be over. Forecasters expect the area of low pressure currently over southern Australia to move north, bring further showers and thunderstorms to the region over the coming days.
