Sydney residents have pulled out their phones and posted videos on social media as cars floated down flooded streets, bridges were inundated, homes soaked and Manly Dam spilled – threatening hundreds of homes – while torrential rain continued to fall on Australia’s biggest city, claiming two lives.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued flood warnings while the SES ordered the urgent evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Sydney on Tuesday.
This is the Spit pic.twitter.com/Z2OCeQvHtJ
— Spiney (@spiney21) March 8, 2022
The New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, called for residents to follow those orders as the national death toll for the flood crisis rose to 21.
Driving in many parts of Sydney became unsafe as the deluge hit urban streets and motorways.
Sydney M5 tunnel has become Venice. Travel safe everyone #sydneyflood pic.twitter.com/yWq871iA9k
— Shan (@shanshanw) March 8, 2022
Main drag in Manly right now. Stay safe everyone! #sydneyflood #SydneyStorm #sydneyrain pic.twitter.com/hD5T4kPeTC
— Mohamed Taha (@Mo_Taha1) March 8, 2022
Sydney’s northern beaches copped much of the torrent, as the main roads in and out were shut off leaving many isolated from the CBD.
An evacuation warning was issued for 800 homes and 2,000 people in low-lying areas below Manly Dam as it began to spill on Tuesday afternoon.
Had to be rescued from the boathouse in manly today pic.twitter.com/JH93Rvk60T
— Ranya (@_ranya_a) March 8, 2022
Pittwater Road becomes Pittwater river with flooding in Dee Why #sydneyfloods #deewhy #northernbeaches pic.twitter.com/9E9hFQu91N
— Road Less Travelled (@rdlesstravelled) March 8, 2022
It’s bloody wet out there! Just got sent this from Belgrave x Raglan St in Manly 😩 @Francis10698721 pic.twitter.com/QEYKXlYZs1
— Ann Carter (@annncarter) March 8, 2022
Car parks became rivers and people watched as schools and restaurants were inundated by murky flood waters.
This is Narrabeen lagoon flooding up Wellington st. Woolworths car park flooded with two cars stranded @GuardianAus @a_pale_olive_ pic.twitter.com/FqeXy6Qn5m
— Gabrielle Jackson (@gabriellecj) March 8, 2022
My friend picking up his daughter from school today #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/qE1RZdDske
— Liane Rossler (@lianerossler) March 8, 2022
This is the road outside #Cromer High School. Many roads in this condition or worse. I'm afraid the schools should have shut hours ago. Easy in hindsight of course. #Sydney #floods pic.twitter.com/sdtmlX5KyK
— Chris Mitchell (@chrismbbcsport) March 8, 2022
Incredible rain in Sydney. I have a flood in my kitchen. This has never happened in my 32 years in my unit. #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/rbGAz3VX0K
— ℝ𝕠𝕕𝕕𝕝𝕖𝕫 🇺🇦💙💛 P̾u̾t̾i̾n̾🖕 (@Roddlez1) March 7, 2022
Flooding in Sydney! Hope everyone can get to safety! #floods #flooding pic.twitter.com/INuyhcBl9R
— Tony Haddad (@thaddad_) March 8, 2022
Some took to paddleboards as canals gushed with torrents of brown water.
Can we go back to precedented times now pls #sydneyflood pic.twitter.com/HSEZVVBaD9
— Anna Tyndale (@anna_tyndale) March 8, 2022
Local canal that is usually a trickle. Feeds into Tarban Creek and then Parramatta River. #SydneyFlood pic.twitter.com/J0fWYk8HSI
— Narelle (@nazzer) March 8, 2022