As heavy rains continue to batter Australia's New South Wales state, more parts of Sydney have been advised to evacuate due to a significant flooding risk. Residents of low-lying areas of the city are being asked to leave, according to officials. At a press conference on Sunday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that parts of the state's Mid North Coast were witnessing a "once in a century event." For the first time in years, Sydney's primary water source, Warragamba Dam, began to overflow the day before. In New South Wales, dozens of people have been saved from floodwaters, with officials warning of "life-threatening flash floods." In the region, major highways are still closed. Thousands more people in Sydney could be forced to evacuate, according to Ms Berejiklian.
Hundreds of people have already begun to congregate at emergency evacuation centers set up throughout the state. Meanwhile, state authorities have announced that a number of schools in the affected areas will be closed on Monday. In addition, residents were urged to work from home. Rainfall of up to 100mm (four inches) is expected over Sydney in the next 12 hours, with up to 300mm possible in the lower Blue Mountains west of the city. Torrential rains and strong winds are expected to last until the end of next week, with floodwaters not expected to recede until Thursday. Residents in Sydney shared photos of flooded roads and rising waters near their homes on social media. The Bureau of Meteorology's Agata Imielska warned of localized heavy rain and damaging winds, and advised the public to be aware of "dangerous conditions" that can change quickly.