Cannabis revelers trapped by floodwaters in Australia

SYDNEY: An Australian town was cut off by floodwaters Saturday, trapping hundreds of people attending the town's annual cannabis festival.
The town hall was being used as emergency accommodation as camping grounds were swamped by record heavy rains that hit the eastern coast Friday and Saturday.
Nimbi, in New South Wales, has long been a mecca for hippies and marijuana enthusiasts, where police usually do not interfere so long as the illegal drug is used in private.
Meanwhile, police announced Saturday the death toll from the storms had risen to five in heavy storms throughout the region.
Three people died when their vehicle was swept off the road north of Brisbane. Two men died in separate flood incidents overnight, police announced Saturday.
More than 30 people had to be rescued when they were trapped by floodwaters in their cars in Brisbane. More than 30,000 homes lost power, and several dams were overflowing.
Record rainfall hit south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales Friday, dumping 360 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours. More than 100 millimetres were registered in an hour in some areas.
Dozens of homes were being evacuated as rivers risk breaking their banks, rising 120 centimetres in one hour. – dpa