Droughts in Australia

Heavy rains flooded parts of eastern Australia, causing flooding in the Sydney area, but also brought some relief to firefighters who continue to fight dozens of wildfires in the state of New South Wales, the Associated Press and Reuters reported.

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales on Tuesday imposed water restrictions for the first time in a decade with dam levels at just over 50% due to a prolonged drought, reported Euronews.

The country's east coast has suffered through two years of below average rainfall, devastating agricultural production and stoking a political debate over the impact of climate change.

Farm lands in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa have become submerged after three days of heavy rainfall. The rainfall began on Jan. 26 around 8:00 p.m. Farmers had performed a “rain prayer” a few days before, amid the driest winter in years.