Australia news live updates: NSW flood evacuation orders; asylum seekers to be released from detention; 30 Covid deaths

3m ago23:20

High rainfall in NSW to continue throughout April

The spokesperson from the Bureau – I didn’t catch their name – is asked if there will be a reprieve from the rainfall and flash flooding that has been saturating the state for the greater part of the year. They say the La Nina event is expected to continue for the remainder of the month.

So unfortunately we continue to be in a La Nina event which we know for New South Wales means that we can expect to see higher-than-average rainfall conditions which is exactly what we have seen over the past couple of months and we are expecting La Nina to continue throughout the remainder of April.

6m ago23:17

Austin says “exceptionally sharp, short bursts of rain” have seen more than six flash flooding rescues in the past 24 hours for people caught out in the wild weather.

Once again we ask people to limit any non-essential travel through the area to make sure that they don’t put themselves nor their rescuers at risk. At this point in time, the New South Wales SES has in excess of 500 volunteers supported by our partner agencies … they’re currently active out in the field and have been overnight and will continue to be through the day …

This is a highly dynamic situation. These events are moving exceptionally quickly as was witnessed in the Illawarra this morning where we saw, in the space of about three-quarters of an hour, significant downpours, significant flash flooding as I mentioned, and a number of properties impacted by those flash events.

Updated at 23.22 EDT

9m ago23:15

NSW SES responds to more than 680 requests for assistance

The New South Wales State Emergency Service acting commissioner, Daniel Austin, says there have been more than 680 requests for assistance responded to in the past 24 hours.

There have been 25 flood rescues.

Over the last 24 hours, the New South Wales SES together with its partner agencies has responded to in excess of over 680 requests for assistance as a result of the weather system that we’re seeing move through the Sydney metropolitan area, the Illawarra, the South Coast and surrounding areas.

Included in that, there have been 25 flood rescues undertaken. The majority of which result from flash flooding and people being caught out by significant downpours of rain, particularly in the Sydney basin and also through the Illawarra.

Updated at 23.16 EDT

10m ago23:13

There is also a major flood warning in place for Camden, which should reach a major flood level later this evening surpassing the March 2022 event. Major flooding is also possible in North Richmond but expected to be lower than it was last month.

There the potential for major flooding along the Georges River at Liverpool and Milperra from Thursday afternoon:

What I’d really urge the residents in these areas to do today and into tomorrow and the weekend is to keep up-to-date with the latest warnings and forecasts as we are already experiencing, and have forecasts for, major flooding in these areas.

There is also the significant risk of continued flash flooding in the greater Sydney, Upper Hunter, Illawarra and south coast areas from today and into the weekend. So I’m really urging residents to stay up-to-date with the local weather and warning information and stay safe.

Updated at 23.21 EDT

12m ago23:11

Authorities say flooding may surpass the 1988 level at Menangle later this evening.

We do have a flood watch in place which is a heads up for potential flooding in the greater Sydney area, Upper Hunter, Illawarra and south coast, in most of these locations for minor flooding.

The exception is the areas that we are already experiencing flooding, where we have current flood warnings, for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Rivers, the Georges River and the Cooks River. We are already experiencing major flooding for the community at Menangle, and we have forecast for the major flood peak to occur later this evening and that will be near the April 1988 flood level. This is higher than the March 21 and 22 flood levels.

Updated at 23.18 EDT

16m ago23:07

Authorities in Wollongong are giving an update on the unfolding weather situation in New South Wales.

Unfortunately, very heavy rainfall lashing the state isn’t expected to ease until this evening.

As many residents in the greater Sydney area, Illawarra and South Coast would have experienced overnight and earlier today, very heavy rainfall has been occurring and is forecast to continue to occur for the remainder of today in the Hunter, parts of the Central Coast, greater Sydney, Illawarra and south coast areas.

We’re not expecting to see the easing of this very heavy rainfall until this evening where we will see the continuation of rainfall in these areas throughout Friday and over the weekend. We may also see moderate rainfall in parts of the Upper Macquarie, Bogan and Lachlan Rivers from Friday into Saturday.

Updated at 23.18 EDT

18m ago23:05

Meanwhile, United Australia’s Clive Palmer has been speaking at the National Press Club.

20m ago23:03

17 asylum seekers expected to be released from detention

Eden Gillespie

Further to the previous tweets, all of the eight asylum seekers detained in Park Hotel are expected to be released from detention today and granted bridging visas, refuges and advocates have told Guardian Australia.

Three asylum seekers from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation and six asylum seekers from Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation are also expected to be freed today.

It’s often hard to confirm exact numbers of releases from immigration detention. However, Guardian Australia has contacted the Australian Border Force for confirmation.

27m ago22:57

Here’s the latest from the Bureau of Meteorology on the evolving situation in New South Wales.

Major flood warnings are currently in place for the Hawkesbury and Nepean Valley and the Georges and Worona Rivers. Minor flooding is possible for the Central and South Coast rivers from later this afternoon.

Heavy rainfall has been recorded over the central and southern NSW coast since Wednesday evening and has resulted in minor to major flooding.

This rainfall is expected to continue over Metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra and parts of the South Coast and Southern Tablelands over the next 12 to 24 hours and may cause minor flooding in the Central Coast, Shoalhaven, Clyde and Moruya Rivers from Thursday afternoon into Friday.

A severe weather warning is current for heavy rainfall for the Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast and parts of Hunter, Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Updated at 23.00 EDT

30m ago22:54

Mehdi Ali was resettled in the US last month after years languishing in Melbourne’s Park Hotel.

36m ago22:47

More detainees are expected to be released from detention across Brisbane and Melbourne. There will no longer be any men detained at the Park Hotel.

Updated at 23.05 EDT

37m ago22:46

RATs to be made free for Victorians with a disability

Benita Kolovos

Benita Kolovos

The Victorian government will provide free rapid antigen tests for all Victorians with a disability, Australian of the year recipient Dylan Alcott has announced on premier Daniel Andrews’ social media:

RATs will be available from Saturday at current testing sites and through disability liaisons officers. People will need evidence of eligibility, such as an NDIS statement, to collect up to 20 at a time.

Earlier this year, Alcott called for RATs and N95 masks to be free for all Australians living with a disability.

I’m so stoked this has happened, I hope the rest of the country follows suit … so people with a disability can get out there and start living their lives in a safer way.

Updated at 22.58 EDT

42m ago22:42

Flood evacuation orders in NSW

We will be hearing from the NSW SES at 1pm today.

There are currently five active evacuation orders covering low-lying parts of Woronora, Bonnet Bay and Bungawalbin as rain again lashes the state.

There are also three evacuation warnings in place for parts of Camden, Stonequarry Creek, Stuarts Point and surrounds.

Updated at 22.52 EDT

45m ago22:39

Our Queensland state reporter Eden Gillespie is reporting there are 11 expected releases from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (Mita) and the Park Hotel including Mustafa, 23, and his father.

Updated at 22.49 EDT

48m ago22:36

Many thanks to the magnificent Matilda Boseley for guiding us through this busy morning. I’ll be with you for the rest of the day.