The Australian coastal enclave of Byron Bay was inundated by flood waters as severe storms battered stretches of the country's east. Torrential rain began on Monday, with more than 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) falling in the area in 24 hours, forcing many shops in the Byron Bay town centers to close as roads were cut off by rising water levels. By Wednesday morning, there were 10 evacuation orders in place across the affected region, urging thousands of people to leave their homes for higher ground. For weeks, Australia's east has been smashed by extreme weather, fueled by La Nina weather patterns and climate change. Record rainfalls and deadly flooding have killed at least 22 people since early February.