Severe flooding across the New South Wales mid-north coast has left three people dead, one missing, and tens of thousands isolated, with authorities warning the situation could worsen. Torrential rain over three consecutive days has caused rivers and tributaries to overflow, prompting 149 flood warnings, including 37 emergency alerts, and cutting off entire communities. Premier Chris Minns described the flooding as the worst many residents have seen in their lifetimes, comparing it to levels not witnessed since 1920.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has deployed 500 boats and nine helicopters to assist the more than 48,000 people stranded by floodwaters. Despite these efforts, emergency services are struggling to reach everyone in need. 2,200 SES personnel and additional support teams are on the ground, with continued assistance required as conditions evolve. Police Northern Region Commander David Waddell confirmed the third fatality on Thursday evening, as search efforts intensified in multiple locations.
Fatalities and Missing Persons in Worsening Conditions
The latest victim, a 60-year-old woman, was found near Brooklana, west of Coffs Harbour, after attempting to drive through floodwaters. She was last seen traveling in a 4WD around 7 p.m. Wednesday after a police officer advised against continuing. She later phoned for help but could not be located until Thursday. Earlier, a 63-year-old man was found deceased on North Moto Road, and a third body—believed to be a man in his 30s—was recovered near Rosewood.
Another person remains missing in Nymboida after failing to return home from a walk near flooded roads. Commander Waddell described the ongoing flood event as “really dangerous” and “once in a lifetime,” urging residents not to enter floodwaters under any circumstances. Support services have been assigned to assist affected emergency personnel, including the officer who last saw the woman at Brooklana.
Communities Cut Off as Rivers Continue to Rise
Flooding is impacting multiple river systems, including the Manning, Paterson, Hastings, Williams, Nambucca, and Macleay Rivers, where major flood levels have been recorded. In Port Macquarie, key roads such as Hastings River Drive have been submerged, and low-lying suburbs like Settlement Point are under evacuation orders. Deputy Mayor Lauren Edwards noted that communities on both sides of the Hastings River were affected, with more streets likely to close.
In Coffs Harbour, resident Mark Graham reported hours of persistent rainfall overnight, describing the situation as the culmination of months of saturation. Local businesses and roads have been inundated, compounding challenges for emergency response crews. The SES has conducted over 600 flood rescues and received more than 4,600 calls for assistance as the situation continues to unfold.
Three people have been reported missing in the NSW floods, which have been described by Premier Chris Minns today as a "natural disaster".
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) May 22, 2025
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Evacuation Centres Open as Flood Alerts Persist
As of Thursday, 15 evacuation centres have been activated across affected regions, including locations in Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, and Port Macquarie. The federal emergency management minister, Kristy McBain, confirmed the disaster recovery allowance has been activated for the Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog, and MidCoast council areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that while rainfall may ease on the mid-north coast by Friday, the system is expected to shift south, bringing heavy rain to the Hunter, Blue Mountains, and Southern Highlands. Meteorologist Steve Bernasconi cautioned that downstream river rises would continue, and the threat of flooding had not yet passed. The SES assistant commissioner Dean Storey urged residents not to become complacent, noting that further emergency warnings were likely.
