The Australian government will deploy military units to help communities affected by severe flooding that has been ongoing for several days in the northern part of the country, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, quoted by Reuters.
According to him, the cabinet has approved the dispatch of personnel from the Australian Armed Forces to assist in rescue and recovery operations around the town of Katherine. The settlement is located about 264 kilometers south of Darwin.
„To all those who are going through difficult times right now - know that we are with you during the rescue and recovery operations“, Albanese wrote on the social network „Ex“ (X).
Emergency Services Minister Christy McBain said in a television interview that the military would be deployed for up to 14 days to assist local authorities and rescue teams.
Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in northern parts of the country and the state of Queensland. Rescue services said earlier this week that two bodies had been found during a search operation in the Gympie area. They are believed to be those of Chinese tourists who went missing during the floods.
According to scientists from Australia's national science agency, climate change is already leading to an increase in the intensity of short-term heavy rainfall in the country, which increases the risk of such extreme floods.
In January this year, 20 people were rescued from floods in the eastern state of New South Wales after residents were urged to move to higher ground due to torrential rains.