Sun, 08 Nov 2009 3:39p.m.
Australian emergency services were helping residents of New South Wales on Sunday mop up after torrential rains, as some 200 people remain cut off by the flooding, according to reports by Australian news agencies.
Almost 5000 residents were isolated in areas including the NSW towns of Bellingen, Bowraville, and on the upper Bellinger River and the upper Kalang Rivers following torrential rain in the 48 hours to early Saturday morning local time.
Aerial images of Bellingen submerged roads, abandoned vehicles and herds of livestock stranded in pastures.
The state government on Saturday declared several areas on the state's mid north coast a natural disaster zone, giving local councils the green light for state assistance to repair roads, bridges, water bores and other public infrastructure.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted further showers and isolated thunderstorms for the region on Sunday afternoon.
APTN