Residents evacuated after Tasmania flooding

[senorpepr]

(On a side note, this is Global Weather's 200th topic!!!)
The State Emergency Service (SES) and police have begun evacuating people stranded by Tasmania's floods.

The floods are worst in north-east and east of the state.

Regional officer for the SES, Martin Boyle, says evacuations have started.

"We're evacuating a male person from Ansons Bay with a suspected heart condition by helicopter at the moment and we've had a few reports of some people trapped up at Cape Naturaliste which we're attending to," he said.

Joyce Gale from Musselroe Bay says the ordeal has taken its toll.

"There's been quite a few downhearted because they've been flooded out and lost quite a few things in their homes but on the whole everyone's pitching in and helping as best we can," she said.

Food and other supplies are being sent in to Musselroe Bay and Ansons Bay.

Heavy rain has also closed the Esk Highway near Avoca.

This morning the South Esk was continuing to rise at Avoca as the flood peak moved down stream.

Poppy and barley crops were damaged by the heavy rain and the Break Of Day Council has reports of several bridges and roads damaged by the surging flood waters.

Road crews also cleared a land slip at the St Marys Pass this morning reopening the highway.

At Grey near St Marys almost half of metre of rain has been recorded over the past 72 hours and there is more forecast for the already sodden state.