Landslides were caused by 20cm of rain falling within 24 hours in the state of Victoria. Rivers burst their banks and houses and cars were swamped by the water. It’s thought that it will cost millions of dollars to put right the damage caused.

As well as people having to flee their homes, another 40,000, many in Melbourne, were without power.

State Emergency Service official Tim Wiebusch said: “Our state is very wet.”

Neighbouring country New Zealand has had to deal with another natural disaster. An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the magnitude scale hit the city of Christchurch on the south island. Hundreds of buildings are damaged, several people have been badly hurt but no-one died because of the quake.