Floods in Australian state of Tasmania ease, residents allowed to return

Flooding in Tasmania - Australia's southernmost state - eased on Thursday allowing nearly 3,000 residents to return to their homes in the suburb of Invermay, Launceston, one of the country's oldest cities. Australia's east coast was battered this week by heavy rains, bringing giant waves and cyclone-strength winds. Helicopters were used to assess damage and inspect rivers. As the weather system moved south, it struck Tasmania in recent days. Parts of Tasmania have already recorded about a month's worth of rain. The recent wild weather across Australia's east coast and Tasmania is likely to bring a host of insurance claims. Waves up to five metres pounded much of the east coast at the weekend, leading to widespread property damage. On the eastern seaboard, four people have died and two are still missing due to the powerful storms.