Two cousins, aged 26 and 27, attempted to navigate floodwaters in Rothbury, New South Wales, on Saturday night while travelling with a dog in their small car. Unfortunately, their vehicle became stuck, prompting the women to exit, at which point they were both swept away by the rushing waters.
The 27-year-old was able to resurface and manage to save the dog, but her cousin, the 26-year-old, went missing. Family members were left “distraught” upon being informed of the situation by police. Search efforts began immediately, and a body was discovered shortly thereafter, believed to be that of the missing woman, though formal identification has yet to occur. Authorities are preparing a report for the coroner.
Both cousins, who were originally from China and residing in Sydney on working visas, had been in Cessnock for the weekend when the region was inundated with heavy rain. The deluge led to significant flooding across the Hunter region and other areas of New South Wales, with rainfall totals reaching 100mm in various regions, resulting in numerous weather warnings.
In the wake of the storms, the State Emergency Service (SES) received over 4,300 calls and addressed more than 2,300 incidents, which included 34 flood rescues since the rainfall began. The continuous efforts of emergency services highlight the severity of the flooding conditions in the state.