Shocking aerial vision of cars stranded on a tiny patch of grass in a sea of water has shown the true scale of the New South Wales floods.
The confronting photo was taken from a helicopter in Windsor, north-west of Sydney, during Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s tour of flood-affected parts of the state on Wednesday morning.
A 4×4 vehicle and two trailers were pictured marooned on the ‘island’, while a truck and sedan were partially submerged.
Windsor has been hit hard by the floods due to its vulnerable position on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, with residents left isolated as the historic town is cut off from neighbouring areas.
The NSW State Emergency Service has warned of more major flooding in Windsor on Wednesday as well as other communities along the Hawkesbury River including North Richmond.
Scroll down for video
A confronting photo taken from a helicopter in Windsor, north-west of Sydney, on Wednesday morning highlights the flood crisis in New South Wales
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pictured during his tour on Wednesday morning of flood-affected parts of NSW
Mr Morrison wore heavy-duty overalls and a helmet as he surveyed the extent of the flooding.
Other photos of the tour showed streets flooded on Windsor’s outskirts, and crops left in ruin from the torrential rain.
About 18,000 NSW residents have been evacuated since last week, with warnings the flood clean-up could stretch beyond Easter.
Residents northwest of Sydney, including those living near the Colo River, have been ordered to evacuate as a surge of water flows into catchments, causing rivers to rise.
The SES ordered about 500 people in 200 homes to get out on Tuesday. Rescue crews used boats and helicopters during the evacuations.
Flood-affected areas are seen from a helicopter in the Windsor area on Wednesday. Residents there have been left completely stranded as the historic town is cut off from neighbouring areas
A family fleeing the flooded Colo River needed to be rescued twice after the rescue boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon.
Three SES crews were also on board when the boat overturned as it approached the Sackville Ferry Wharf.
People in caravans along a stretch of the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry have been told to prepare to leave, as have those in the Picton CBD, 60km southwest of Sydney, due to rising levels at Stonequarry Creek.
Other photos taken from a helicopter on Wednesday morning showed crops left in ruin
More than 10,000 requests for help have been made in NSW since Thursday, with emergency services performing about 900 flood rescues.
An inland weather system coming across from the Northern Territory is also hitting rural communities such as Grafton and Lismore.
Evacuation warnings persist at Kempsey on the state’s Mid North Coast, while the Hunter, the Central Tablelands and the south coast are also in for a drenching.
A major flood warning is in place for the Orara River at Glenreagh and Coutts Crossing in north-eastern NSW.
More than 10,000 requests for help have been made in NSW since last Thursday, with emergency services performing more than 900 flood rescues. Pictured: A flooded home in Londonderry, 60km north-west of Sydney
Warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith are in place and floodwaters are expected to affect the upper Nepean.
Rain started to ease in coastal areas on Tuesday evening, but the BOM says conditions will remain severe for inland NSW.
Sunnier skies in coastal NSW will not end flood risks, with rain catchments continuing to flow into swollen rivers.
Heavy rain is also forecast for the state’s south coast.
About 18,000 NSW residents have been evacuated from their homes since last week when the rains began in NSW. Pictured: A home along the Colo River
Bureau meteorologist Agata Imielska said on Tuesday that it was ‘very important to remember that even though we’ll have blue sky and sunshine returning, flooding will continue and the flood risk will continue’.
Ms Berejiklian also warned the rivers would keep rising after the rain stopped.
‘If you have been asked to be on alert for evacuation, please get together your precious belongings, make sure you are safe and make sure you’re ready to leave at very short notice,’ Ms Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
About 280 NSW schools were closed on Tuesday due to the rainfall, with a similar number expected to be shut on Wednesday.
Residents look out at the swollen Hawkesbury River from the deck of a partially submerged house as floodwaters rise
There have been 12,000 insurance claims so far, and that number is expected to increase dramatically. Pictured: A flooded home in Londonderry
