‘Black hole’: telecommunications outage hampering flood rescues and recovery in northern NSW

Bank customers queuing in Mullumbimby, NSW after it opened for the first time since flooding engulfed the region on 3 March. Photograph: Elias Visontay/The Guardian

Telecommunications issues are hampering flood rescues and recovery efforts in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, with Ballina Shire Council mayor, Sharon Cadwallader, saying internet outages and patchy reception were the biggest issue for locals.

Mobile internet coverage is almost nonexistent across large swathes of the Northern Rivers and phone reception is intermittent.