After heavy rains in eastern Australia, the authorities warn of a "life-threatening emergency" for the population living there.
Many towns are under water after several rivers burst their banks.
Individual residents had to be taken out of their locked cars.
Pedestrians who had been swept away by the water were just able to hold on to poles and trees until rescue workers pulled them out of the danger zone.
Whole towns are cut off from the outside world because the bridges can no longer be crossed.
There is a risk of further flooding, landslides and trees falling over in the storm.
Till Fähnders
Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.
Follow I follow
Thousands of people had to leave their homes because of the flooding.
New South Wales rescue workers had received 3,900 calls from people in need of help.
85 people had to be rescued from their homes.
A man died in a kayak in Sydney Harbour.
It remains to be determined whether this was a result of the weather.
The military has sent soldiers to help with the rescue work.
They now secure buildings with sandbags and go from house to house to warn residents.
Ashley Sullivan, spokesman for emergency services in the state of New South Wales, issued a warning: "I know it's the school holidays right now, but please reconsider your travel plans," he said.
"If you don't have to leave your home, then stay there if it's safe to do so."
Heavy rain has been going on for days
Areas in the west and south-west of Sydney are particularly affected.
Some are already experiencing the fourth flood in six months.
The heavy rain has been going on for days.
During this time four times as much rain fell as usual in the whole month of July.
The region on the east coast had already been hit by severe flooding in March.
At that time, 20 people died and hundreds were left homeless.
In some regions, historic record levels are being reached again on the rivers.
This time the water is rising particularly quickly in Windsor.
The Hawkesbury River swelled there in places by 30 centimeters per hour.
It reached a new high after surpassing the last one only in March 2021.
The largest reservoir overflows
The meteorologists expect further heavy rainfall up to and including Tuesday.
A low-pressure area that formed in eastern Australia is responsible.
It means "more torrential rain, strong, destructive storms and coastal erosion," said New South Wales Civil Protection Minister Steph Cooke.
"We face threats on several fronts: flash floods, river floods and coastal erosion," said the minister.
"If you know that your community is easily affected by flooding, please prepare to be evacuated at short notice." People are tired of the disasters, but no one should feel too safe.
Even an end to the rains will not bring any security, since the water has been overflowing from the largest reservoir in Warragamba since Sunday.
Meanwhile, a dramatic towing operation is underway off the coast of the Royal National Park south of Sydney.
A 169 meter long container ship is drifting in the rough waves and is in danger of being thrown onto the cliffs.
The freighter "Portland Bay", which is registered in Hong Kong, reported engine failure after leaving Wollongoong in the morning.
In the meantime he was only a nautical mile from the coast.
Experts warned of a possible natural disaster if the freighter ran aground with up to 1,000 tons of heavy fuel oil on board.
The rescue workers had canceled an attempt to rescue the 21-strong crew with a helicopter because of the bad weather conditions.
A total of three tugs are now helping to stabilize the ship in the up to eight meter high waves and to pull it away from the coast and out into the open sea.