Flooded Australian homes looted

The total damage bill from the storms currently stands at $165m

Many people returning home after four days of heavy storms and flooding in eastern Australia have found their properties and businesses were looted.

Residents and traders said thieves took retail goods and household items at the height of the storm on Saturday in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast areas.

Nine people died in the worst storms to hit the region in 30 years.

Health officials have also warned of the threat of disease from receding floodwaters contaminated with sewage.

A New South Wales public health controller, David Durrhem, said up to 60 sewage pumping stations in the Hunter region and 40 on the Central Coast were without power over the weekend, causing overflows into the floods.

Although Mr Durrhem said the system was operating again, he told residents to protect themselves against contamination during the clean-up and report cases of gastro-intestinal illness.

They smashed through windows and smashed the displays, and they've just taken what they wanted Shopkeeper Paul Murphy

"Obviously there was enormous dilution of the sewerage with the flood waters but we are still urging residents to treat all items that have been exposed to flood waters as contaminated," he said.

Health authorities are also monitoring the receding water for chemicals which may have been released during the floods.

Meanwhile, maritime officials at the port of Newcastle are attempting to stabilise and remove a 40,000 tonne coal-carrying vessel which ran aground in gale-force winds on Friday.

'Heartbreaking'

As the multi-million dollar clean-up in the low-lying areas stretching hundreds of kilometres north of Sydney began, several residents returning to the region were shocked to find their property had been looted in addition to the damage done by the floods.

Paul Murphy, an owner of a shop in Newcastle, said looters had stolen more than $8,000 (USD) of electrical goods.

"They smashed through windows and smashed the displays, and they've just taken what they wanted, mostly high-priced iPods and Playstations," he told The Australian newspaper.

Mr Murphy said his business was in "total disarray" and that the total damage done could reach $800,000.

"It's heartbreaking. I've been through the earthquake and a fire in the building, but the water damage is the worst experience I've had in 40 years of retail life. Just pure devastation," he added.

In Chittaway Bay, residents said they had seen looters used boats to float up to people's homes and transport their possessions away.

The Insurance Council of Australia said the total damage bill from the floods currently stood at around $165m and was expected to rise.

About 30,000 homes in the New South Wales are still without power and electricity officials said it might take a week for some to be reconnected.