02 July 2005 Clean-up begins on Gold Coast
The clean-up operation on Australia's Gold Coast has begun, with the rain having finally stopped for long enough for the extent of the damage to be assessed.
After days of torrential rain, the Wilson River in Lismore reached 10.2 metres, just below the city's flood levee of 11 metres.
Nevertheless, flooding in the city had caused more than 6,000 people to be evacuated from their homes.
After making a tour of the city, the New South Wales premier Bob Carr declared the city to be a "natural disaster zone".
Mr Carr also stated that Gold Coast residents "in a financially stretched position" who had suffered flood damage would be able to rely on emergency cash assistance for essential belongings.
Furthermore, Coolangatta Airport has now opened again, having been shut down for 24 hours after heavy flooding.
Meanwhile, the couple that went missing after their truck was swept away by floodwaters have still not been located, although the authorities remain optimistic that they will be found.
Police spokesman Inspector Rick Wall told ABC News: "There was two calls received yesterday, one slightly after midnight, the other slightly after that and the people have said they were still in this unfortunate situation but we are hopeful, like everybody."
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