Australia to declare east coast floods a national emergency

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared a national emergency following floods across large swathes of the east coast (Jason O’Brien/AAP/AP)

Australia’s prime minister has said he will declare a national emergency following floods across large swathes of the east coast that have claimed 22 lives.

Scott Morrison made the announcement during a visit to flood-devastated Lismore in northern New South Wales state, where four people died last week.