CANBERRA, Jun 23 (NNN-AAP) – Heavy rains have caused flooding and blackouts in the Australian state of South Australia (SA), prompting hundreds of calls for aid.
Adelaide and its surrounds were battered by a heavy thunderstorm last night, with the capital city of SA receiving 41.6 millimetres of rain as of this morning.
More than 2,800 households and businesses were without power this morning, and the State Emergency Service (SES) had responded to 240 calls for assistance, including swift water rescues, after people became trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters.
Roads have been closed in some areas and motorists were warned not to drive through floodwaters.
“We’re just asking commuters to plan their travel, it’s never safe to drive into floodwaters, so please make sure you find an alternative route, if you are faced with that,” Dave O’Shannessy from the SES told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
More than 100 SES volunteers have been called upon for flooding assistance.
A private dam, east of Adelaide, broke its banks and created a road hazard but is structurally sound.
“Although the forecast for today sees the showers clearing, we do anticipate there still will be some flooded roads and debris on the roads,” O’Shannessy said.
Conditions were forecast to ease significantly today, after the main system driving the heavy rain passed into Victoria, but showers are expected to persist.
“Thankfully the worst of it has passed,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster, Mark Anolak said.– NNN-AAP