Evacuation order in place for parts of northern Tasmania as floodwaters pose threat to lives

Parts of Tasmania have been hit by record-breaking rainfall with major warnings issued for rivers across the north and north-west and evacuations across 17 local government areas.

Major flood warnings are current for the Meander River, Mersey River, and North Esk and South Esk rivers, and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says flood peaks are likely to be "the highest on record in some of those places".