Four people have died and several were missing as major flooding in New South Wales (NSW) left about 50,000 people isolated by floodwaters. The record rainfall, now declared a natural disaster, has been caused by a slow-moving area of low pressure and is greater than any in living memory for some residents, according to local authorities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the start of a cleanup operation in eastern Australia after record-breaking floods killed five people and stranded tens of thousands of people.

Record floodwaters on Australia 's east coast left two people dead and two others missing, officials said Thursday, as more heavy rain was forecast in the area. More than 500 people were rescued in the flooding emergency in New South Wales state north of Sydney.