Sydney: The death toll from torrential rains and flooding on Australia’s east coast has risen to at least four people, while tens of thousands of residents remain isolated after large areas of the Hunter Valley and Central Coast were submerged, Australian authorities reported on Friday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Angus Haynes announced expectations of a decrease in rainfall and an improvement in weather conditions in the coming hours, noting that the amount of rainfall recorded is a record for the region.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns warned of the potential for the situation to deteriorate, stressing that significant human and material resources have been allocated to deal with the disaster.

Official data showed that emergency teams responded to more than 1,023 flood-related incidents within 24 hours, including 339 direct flood rescues, with more than 100 successful operations in areas such as Taree, Glenthorne, and Oxley Island.

More than 100 schools were closed on Thursday, while thousands of properties remain without power, amid ongoing efforts to restore essential services to affected areas.