A natural disaster of unprecedented proportions has wreaked havoc across north-eastern NSW, with hundreds still trapped or missing on Tuesday morning.

Almost 16,000 people across 12 areas including Lismore, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby and Grafton were subject to evacuation orders, while a further 14,000 people in surrounding areas are on high alert after record falls in the region.

Lismore mayor Steve Krieg – who grew up in the WA town of Harvey – told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings he is devastated at the floods and never seen anything like it.

“We are still coming to terms with what’s happened to Lismore, we had a major flood five years ago that peaked a 11.2m, more than enough come over our levy bank, first time ever,” he told the program.

“To put it in perspective now, we’re gonna have another 3m on top of that.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet warned the worst was yet to come, with damaging winds and flooding forecast to hit Sydney in the next 48 hours, with six-hourly rainfall totals exceeding 200 millimetres.

2GB reporter Clinton Maynard also provided the latest news to the program from the ground in Grafton, where things were currently sunny and hot.

Press PLAY below to hear both of them talk to Liam about the floods.