Heavy rain triggered flash floods that cut off some inland towns in Australia’s southeast on Monday, with fresh evacuation warnings issued for thousands of rural residents.

The country’s fourth major flooding this year saw wild weather pummel parts of southwest New South Wales (NSW) and northeast Victoria overnight, bursting river banks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter the flash flooding was “creating dangerous conditions” and that the federal government was working closely with the states on rescue efforts. In rural NSW, roads, bridges and farms were submerged.

Molong, about 300km northwest of Sydney and home to more than 2,000, was one of the towns hit by heavy flooding. Footage on social media showed a shipping container and household items floating down the town centre.

“Almost every shop went under,” mayor Kevin Beatty said.

He said a shipping container was stuck on the highway near the town, making it harder for emergency crews to reach Molong.