SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Heavy rains flooded east Australia Tuesday night. This prompted evacuation orders for thousands more flood-weary residents. Authorities warned that the severe weather would continue for at least the next 24 hours.

After his vehicle was stuck in floodwaters, a Queensland man died as the result of these floods.

Many towns in northern New South Wales, Queensland and Southeast Queensland are still trying to clean up tonnes of debris from the March floods that killed at least 21 and destroyed hundreds of homes and farms.

New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke stated that many of the buildings which were damaged by flooding a month ago are now expected to be inundated again.

Cooke explained, “It is an unfortunate truth of the current circumstances that we are faced.”

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning Tuesday about potentially dangerous flash floods at the coast of northern New South Wales. It warned that the flooding could be severe and can occur over a longer distance of 500 km (311 mi). The weather bureau stated that there could be an isolated rainstorm of 300mm (12 inches) over some areas in the next six hours.

Residents in Lismore, a northern New South Wales community, were forced to flee due to rising river levels.

Steve Krieg, Lismore mayor, said Tuesday to Channel Nine that the city is “very much in the hands Gods today”. Krieg claimed that another deluge in the midst of residents trying to get their lives back on track, “just really drains” you mentally and emotionally.

After clearing out his business to prevent flood damage, Paul Sullivan, a Lismore businessman, said, “Just another. Here we go again.” “Although the water will eventually come in, it is not possible to push anything out of the gutters,” Sullivan said.

TV footage captured residents fleeing to their houses after they were handed sandbags by emergency service personnel. The Department of Defence stated that approximately 3300 military personnel would remain in flood-hit areas to aid residents.

In the face of criticism for slow response, Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, was behind in election years and declared floods an emergency. He also designated disaster zones in flood-stricken areas that will be eligible to receive additional recovery funds.

La Nina, which is associated with more rainfall and warmer summers, has dominated Australia’s east coast for the second consecutive year. Many rivers were already at capacity prior to the most recent drenching. Official data indicated that some places saw 280mm of rainfall in a 24 hour period from Monday to Tuesday (2200 GMT Monday).