Communities have been ordered to evacuate in three Australian states after heavy rain caused major flooding.
Some parts of the country received three times the October average in just 24 hours.
At least 500 houses have been flooded, one person is dead and another is missing.
Massive flooding across Australia – caused by the La Nina weather pattern – has killed more than 20 people this year.
Victoria – Australia’s second most populous state – has been hit hardest this week. Several communities, including the state capital Melbourne, have been ordered to evacuate.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the number of submerged homes was “absolutely certain to rise” and called it one of the state’s worst floods in decades.
“It’s just started, and it’s going to be with us for a while,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Flooding has swamped roads, forced the closure of schools and knocked out power to 3,000 homes and businesses.
More rain is forecast in the coming weeks, putting pressure on already swollen rivers and saturated ground.
The town of Seymour, north of Melbourne, received 155mm of rain in 24 hours – three times its average October rainfall, or almost a quarter of the average amount London receives in a year.
In Tasmania, several rivers have flooded after some areas received up to 400mm of rain in one day. It is unclear how many homes and businesses have been affected.
In New South Wales, about 600 people were told to evacuate the town of Forbes, where about 250 properties and businesses were expected to flood.
Earlier this week, a man died in the west of the state when his car was submerged in floodwaters.
Rescue workers are also searching for a 63-year-old man who is believed to have been swept away in similar conditions on Tuesday.
Experts say recent floods in Australia have been worsened by climate change and the La Nina weather phenomenon. In Australia, La Nina increases the chance of rain, storms and cooler daytime temperatures.
