Australia Airdrops Emergency Supplies to Flood-Isolated Farmers

Sunday 25 May 2025 - 15:38

By: Zahouani Ilham

Australia Airdrops Emergency Supplies to Flood-Isolated Farmers

In southeastern Australia, helicopters are delivering emergency fodder to farmers stranded by catastrophic floods that have claimed five lives and cut off tens of thousands of people. The mid-north coast of New South Wales, particularly areas like Ghinni Ghinni and Taree, has suffered extensive damage after days of relentless rain caused rivers to overflow, destroying homes and livestock.

Officials estimate that up to 10,000 properties may have been damaged by the floods, which reached their peak with nearly 50,000 residents isolated. Streets and intersections were submerged, and vehicles were partially underwater as fast-rising waters surged through towns.

Dan Patch, a resident of rural Ghinni Ghinni, described the devastation, saying his home was "trashed" and some of his cattle had gone unfed for several days. "It's the worst we've ever seen," he said.

As of Sunday, around 32,000 people remained isolated. Authorities conducted 43 helicopter airdrops and 130 additional supply missions to deliver food to stranded livestock. The most recent confirmed fatality was an elderly man found on a flooded property about 50 kilometers from Taree.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that conditions remain critical as recovery and clean-up operations continue. Australia has experienced a surge in extreme weather events, with scientists pointing to climate change as a driving factor. Following devastating droughts and bushfires, repeated floods since 2021 have inflicted further hardship on the country.