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National

Thousands under flood evacuation orders across Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania

Residents in parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania are under evacuation orders as flooding hits the states. 

Click below for state-level updates for each of these states: 

Where to find emergency assistance and information

Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:

Victoria

Parts of Victoria are experiencing their worst flooding in five decades, with evacuation orders in place and homes in Melbourne's west inundated

There is an emergency warning in place for Rochester, with people being recommended to evacuate immediately to relief centres.

There has been a major flood warning issued for Campaspe River from Barnadown to Rochester and from Lake Eppalock to Barnadown with people advised to move to higher ground. 

There is also an emergency warning to evacuate from Murchison, with major flooding expected along the Goulburn River from Seymour to Shepparton.

People are being urged to move to higher ground from properties along the Maribyrnong River in Maribyrnong, with a "Watch and Act" warning. 

A prepare to evacuate "Watch and Act" warning has been issued for locations within the Mooroopna township, with flooding expected to impact the area from 3pm on Saturday.

According to the SES, about 100 properties in low-lying areas around the Maribyrnong township, Ascot Vale and Keilor have been flooded.

Major flood "Watch and Act" warnings have been issued for the Murray River, downstream of Tocumwal to Barham, for the Yarra River, from Warrandyte to Abbotsford, for Avoca River, downstream of Charlton, and for King River at Docker Road.

The earlier warning to evacuate the Benalla area has been lifted and it is safe to return to Bridge Street East, Smythe Street, Fawckner Drive and Rebecca Court. 

An evacuation order for Werribee Street and Watton Street, near the banks of the Werribee River has been downgraded. 

More than 500 homes have been damaged and a further 500 cut off by the extensive flooding, while thousands of homes have been left without power.

On Friday, emergency services used boats to rescue people trapped by floodwater.

The Victorian government has announced relief payments of up to $560 per adult for those people displaced by the floods.

Premier Daniel Andrews said about 1,500 Victorians had applied for emergency payments. 

New South Wales

Hundreds of residents in the New South Wales Central West town of Forbes have chosen to stay in their homes despite an evacuation order being in place.

On Thursday evening, around 250 homes and businesses and 600 people were ordered to evacuate. 

However, on Friday afternoon, the Lachlan River was steady at 10.55m, just below the expected peak of 10.6m.

It is not yet clear how long Forbes' evacuation order will remain in place.

The evacuation centre in Forbes shut on Friday due to lack of demand.

Tasmania 

Record-breaking rainfall has hit parts of the north and north-west of the state, with major warnings issued for rivers and evacuations across 17 local government areas. 

A flood emergency warning is in place for Deloraine to Carrick and surrounds, with people advised to avoid flooded areas.

A flood emergency warning is in place for Liena to Latrobe, with people advised to monitor the conditions on account of the swollen Mersey River. 

Residents of Kimberley, Elizabeth Town, Merseylea, Sunnyside, Railton, Sassafras, Latrobe, Tarleton and surrounds are likely to be impacted. 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says flood peaks are likely to be "the highest on record in some of those places".

The SES has issued a "Watch and Act" warning for the Mersey River, River Ouse and the Macquarie River, with people advised to monitor conditions as they change. 

There is a minor flood warning for the Forth river as well as "Watch and Act" orders for Liffey River, Lake River, Western Creek, Dampers Creek, Mole Creek, Lobster Rivulet, Leven River and Hadspen.

Evacuation centres have been set up in Deloraine, Newnham and West Ulverstone.

While the rain has eased off after a record-breaking 398mm fell across the north, the BOM has warned the big wet is "not over yet".

Deloraine hit by record-breaking floods.(Supplied: Tasmania Police)

Deloraine and Latrobe have been hardest hit.

In Deloraine, the Meander River peaked at a record-breaking 4.8 metres at Deloraine and, at Latrobe, flooding peaked at 4.5 metres on Friday morning before dropping.

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