Strong winds, huge seas batter Australia's southeast even as rains ease

FILE PHOTO: A police vehicle drives along a street during rainfall in the northern town of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia March 30, 2022 in this still image taken from a video. Seven Network/Handout via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Torrential rain that flooded towns on Australia's east coast eased on Friday but a combination of two intense weather systems generated wild winds and huge waves at several tourist spots including Sydney's northern beaches.

Water levels are gradually receding in the worst-hit towns with some residents returning to their homes to take stock of the damage, though more than 20,000 people remain under evacuation orders, emergency services said.