Flood warnings as southeast Australia lashed by heavy rain

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Flood warnings have been issued, hundreds of homes have been evacuated, thousands more have lost power and a man is missing as heavy rain lashes southeast Australia. Rivers across Australia’s most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, and the island state of Tasmania were rising dangerously on Thursday with catchments soaked by months of above-average rainfall. Police say a 63-year-old man was last seen on Tuesday near the New South Wales town of Hillston, west of Sydney. He was reported missing hours later but emergency crews have failed to find any sign of him. Police on Tuesday found the body of a 46-year-old man in his submerged car in floodwater near the city of Bathurst, west of Sydney.