Authorities said 72 rescues were carried out in state capital Sydney, Australia’s largest city, where there was dangerous flooding in several low-lying suburbs.

Some 15 emergency evacuation orders were in place statewide, said New South Wales state emergency service, which had fielded 4,128 calls for help in the 24 hours to 5am local time.

“Flood levels in some of the rivers particularly in western Sydney are continuing to rise,” said premier Chris Minns in a televised media conference.

Torrential rains pummelled Australia’s southeast yesterday, dumping almost a month’s worth of rainfall on Sydney and prompting warnings for people to avoid non-essential travel and stay indoors.

Sydney received 111mm of rainfall over the 24 hours to Friday morning, data from the nation’s weather forecaster showed, just shy of mean rainfall of 121.5mm for the month of April.