That’s one way to get around! Aussie paddles a KAYAK down a closed highway as flash flooding causes traffic carnage for millions
- Man travels on highway on a kayak after major rainfall floods the massive road
- He was seen on the Pacific Highway between Taree and Coopernook in NSW
- Police and premier have beg people to stay at home, no matter how they travel
An adventurous man has taken advantage of extreme flash flooding across New South Wales by pulling out his kayak and going for a paddle on a major highway.
New South Wales police intercepted the topless boater on Saturday at the Pacific Highway around Taree, which is closed in both directions between Taree and Coopernook after being overwhelmed with flood waters.
Fire and rescue have warned residents to stay away from flood affected areas, even if they do have unique ways of getting around.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also warned people to stay at home at a press conference on Saturday.
‘Whatever you do, do not drive through those floods, make sure you put safety first, it is not the time to be out and about,’ she said.
An adventurous man (pictured) has taken advantage of extreme flash flooding across New South Wales by pulling out his kayak and going for a paddle on a major highway
Fire and rescue have warned residents to stay away from flood affected areas, even if they do have unique ways of getting around. Pictured: A submerged house in Manning River, Taree
With rainfall up of to 400mm in some areas, traffic across parts of NSW’s coast have been heavily delayed. Pictured: This car probably won’t reach its destination
With unrelenting rainfall up of to 400mm in some areas, traffic across parts of NSW’s coast have been heavily delayed due to the wild weather stretching from the mid-north coast of NSW down to Illawarra, south of Sydney.
NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has ordered evacuations in suburbs including Taree and surrounding areas such as Dungog, Wingham, Port Macquarie and Laurieton.
There are two evacuation centres in the area around Taree.
The Wingham Golf Club at 30/32 Country Club Drive, Wingham and Taree RSL and Golf Club at 121 Wingham Road in Taree are open for stranded residents.
The SES has responded to more than 4,000 calls for help including 500 flood rescues in NSW.
New South Wales police intercepted the topless boater on the Pacific Highway around Taree, which is closed in both directions between Taree and Coopernook. Pictured: Warragamba Dam has spilled over
Ms Berejiklian has begged people in affected areas to stay in for next few days, saying the rain is not expected to stop until Thursday or Friday.
‘The last time we got major floods in the NSW the weather event passed in two or three days, unfortunately this will be a deep-seated, extreme weather event,’ she said at the press conference on Saturday.
‘This is an event that will not be going away in the next few days.
‘Everybody else who isn’t living in directly impacted areas, don’t move around unless you have to.’