Record floodwaters in eastern Australia leave four dead and one missing

Emergency workers wade through floodwaters as they prepare inflatable boats to effect rescues near Taree, Australia (NSW Police via AP)

Record floodwaters on Australia’s east coast have left four people dead and one missing, officials said on Friday as rain eased over the disaster area.

Some 50,000 people have been isolated by flooding along the coast of New South Wales state, north of Sydney, after days of heavy rain.