Torrential Rainfall Leads To More Flooding In Waterlogged Southeastern Australia

A resident in the suburb of Maribyrnong walks down a flooded street on October 14, 2022 in Victoria, Australia. An emergency warning was issued for Maribyrnong this morning with residents near the river told to evacuate homes as flood waters rise following heavy rain. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Torrential rainfall led to dozens of rescues, hundreds of evacuations and thousands of power outages across southeastern Australia as a powerful storm buffeted the area on Thursday. AccuWeather forecasters say gushing rainfall quickly flooded streets and caused rivers and streams to swell to dangerous levels.

Portions of the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales were among the areas hit hardest by the rounds of relentless rain that began late Wednesday. Streets quickly turned into rushing rivers as rain fell too hard to be contained.