Flood threat moves north as water levels start to recede in Sydney

A boat patrols the Hunter River near Hinton, Australia (State Emergency Service via AP)

Floodwaters are receding in Sydney and its surrounding area as heavy rain threatened to inundate towns north of Australia’s largest city.

Evacuation orders and official warnings to prepare to abandon homes were given to 60,000 people by Thursday, down from 85,000 on Wednesday, New South Wales state premier Dominic Perrottet said.