Residents and government workers in Taree, a city in Australia's New South Wales, began post-flooding cleanup on the weekend as the floodwater receded.
Taree is one of the hardest-hit areas in the recent rain-triggered flood.
Four consecutive days of heavy rainfall caused the water level of the Manning River in the local area to rise, flooding a large number of houses in low-lying areas and forcing many residents to evacuate.
On Saturday, local bridges connecting the two banks of the Manning River reopened to traffic as the water levels dropped. Then, dredging work on the river and local roads began.
Many residents returned home to clean their houses and placed damaged furniture and appliances on the roadside for clearing vehicles to transport away.
"When we'll finish, (I'm) not sure. I just feel so sorry for the residents. They can't insure here because it's in flood, and this is probably the second time they have been through it in four years. They lost all their white goods. It's just devastating for them, heartbreaking for them," said a cleanup worker.
Emergency service authority of the state said on Saturday that early estimates suggest more than 10,000 properties have been damaged in floodwaters in the state's eastern regions.
The NSW Police said in a statement on Friday evening that rescue officers found a body inside a burnt-out vehicle at a property on the flood-hit Mid North Coast.
It marks the fifth death in the widespread flooding crisis that has hit the Mid North Coast and surrounding regions following consecutive days of torrential rainfall.
Post-flooding cleanup underway in New South Wales
The fact-distorting comments by Japan and some other countries regarding China's necessary moves to defend national sovereignty and justice are extremely hypocritical, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.
According to media reports, Japan, Australia, institutions of the European Union and some European countries have expressed concerns over the military drills around the Taiwan Island.
At a regular press conference in Beijing, Li said that China firmly opposes this and has lodged stern representations.
"These countries and institutions have turned a deaf ear to Taiwan separatists' attempts to seek secession by force and have turned a blind eye to external interference in China's internal affairs, yet criticize China's necessary moves to defend national sovereignty and justice, calling white black and confounding right with wrong, which is extremely hypocritical. China firmly opposes this and has lodged stern representations," Lin said.
"Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs that brooks no external interference. The most fundamental status quo in the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one China. The biggest threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are Taiwan separatist activities and the indulgence and support of external forces," Lin said.
"The one-China principle is a prevailing consensus in the international community and a basic norm of international relations. It serves as the political foundation for the establishment and development of diplomatic ties between China and all other countries. Japan, Australia, and European countries made solemn political commitments in this regard when establishing those ties with China. We strongly urge the aforementioned countries and institutions to strictly abide by the one-China principle, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop condoning or supporting Taiwan separatist activities," he said.
Comments by Japan, other countries on military drills around Taiwan hypocritical: Chinese spokesman
