Australia's southeast states remain under emergency flood warnings

Three Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales and the island state of Tasmania are still under emergency warnings after an intense weather system this week brought more than a month’s worth of rain to the southeast.

Hundreds of residents in northern Tasmania have been forced to evacuate their homes due to flooding.

In the Victorian city of Shepparton, northeast of Melbourne, there will an increase in the amount of flooding, according to forecasts.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted that there is a chance of flash flooding in Shepparton on Saturday night.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How said that while the heavy rain has eased, the risk of flooding remains widespread.

The amount of rainfall has caused the water in the rivers to swell and roar.

"Catchments are very, very wet and rivers have responded very, very quickly, and these rivers are expected to remain high for at least a few weeks," How told ABC television.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that the federal government is ready to provide assistance to the flood-affected states and that Australian Defense Force personnel have been deployed in various areas to assist flood victims.

Victorian authorities have announced the first flood deaths after the body of a man was found in floodwaters in Rochester, 200km north of Melbourne.

A clean-up operation was carried out in Melbourne's west after the Maribyrnong River overflowed on Friday.

SS