News

Evacuee numbers increase despite favourable weather

December 22, 2016 12:01 am

Evacuee numbers have increased overnight despite 18 centres closing and some people returning to their homes to start a massive clean-up three days before Christmas.

The National Disaster Management Office has as of this morning confirmed 101 evacuation centres remain open with a new total of 2612 evacuees.

Evacuee numbers have increased by 285 people since last night’s total tally of 2327.

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In the central division, 30 centres are open with 910 people.

In the Eastern division, there are 16 evacuation centres housing 179 people.

In the Northern division, 339 people are sheltering in 18 evacuation centres.

The biggest number of evacuees of 1184 are in the Western division spread across 37 centres.

NDMO continues to advise the general public and those affected by the widespread floods to boil all drinking water.

This is because there is a high possibility that some water sources may be contaminated from the flood waters.

The Australian Government has donated twenty thousand dollars to the relief efforts which has been partially used to procure water purification tablets.