Floods spark more evacuations in NSW

Most of southern NSW remains on high alert as rising river levels threaten already sodden communities with a fresh wave of flooding.

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Most of southern NSW remains on high alert as rising river levels threaten already sodden communities with a fresh wave of flooding.

The town of Forbes, in the state's central west, remains firmly in the firing line, with the Lachlan River forecast to peak at 10.65 metres on Thursday night.

The town is already suffering from major flooding.

"Earlier in the week, when the evacuation order went out, 815 properties were doorknocked and 125 people have registered at evacuation centres," a State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman told AAP.

Other evacuees are staying with friends and relatives. Nearby Condobolin is also under threat and residents spent Thursday morning erecting sandbag walls.

Similar work has been carried out in the village of Willow Bend.

A group of about 120 students from Frensham School, in Mittagong, in the NSW Southern Highlands, were rescued from Belanglo State Forest when a causeway was cut off by floods.

The area has been deluged by heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours.

In NSW's southwest, Griffith residents have been told to prepare for the town to be isolated. One person was rescued from a car trapped in floodwaters in neighbouring Yenda on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, about 600 residents of Wagga Wagga North and neighbouring Gumly Gumly are still unable to return to their homes. About a metre of water still covers the two suburbs.

The SES issued an evacuation order for residents of Gillenbah, northwest of Wagga Wagga, about midday (AEDT) on Thursday.

The Murrumbidgee River was expected to peak during the afternoon and flood the small community, which is on the outskirts of Narrandera.

Meanwhile, the NSW government has declared natural disasters in seven more local government areas, including Urana, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Bathurst, Blacktown, Yass, Harden and Balranald.

The declarations mean residents can access recovery aid.


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Source: AAP


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