Emergency services have made swift-water rescues in South Australia overnight after heavy rains caused localised flooding and roads to be closed across Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills.
Key points:
- Heavy rains have led to localised flooding in parts of Adelaide Hills and Adelaide
- More than 240 calls, including seven swift-water rescues, were made to SES
- Homes have also lost power
The South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) has responded to more than 240 calls for help since 9am yesterday.
They responded to six rescues in the Adelaide Hills and one in Adelaide to save people trapped in fast rising floodwaters.
A flood Watch and Act message has been issued for Waterfall Gully Road in the Adelaide foot hills between Waterfall Terrace and the Waterfall Gully car park.
Waterfall Gully Road is closed due to flash flooding from First Creek.
The SES issued a Flood Advice message for a private dam spillway that overtopped on Swamp Road at Lenswood, causing flooding and the road to shut.
SES chief of staff Dave O’Shannessy said the dam was full and overtopped with water, with no damage to the structure.
“The water which is spilling out is causing hazards to the roads in the area so some road closures are in place,” he said.
“Although the forecast for today sees the showers clearing we do anticipate there still will be some flooded roads and debris on the roads so we’re asking commuters to plan their travel.”
There is also flooding near the Hahndorf exit of the South Eastern Freeway on Mount Barker Road at Verdun.
More road closures
SA Police’s Peter Williams told ABC Radio Adelaide’s Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz that the Mount Barker exit on the uptrack of the South Eastern Freeway is closed due to floodwaters and motorists are asked to find an alternate route.
Mount Barker Road at Hahndorf between Onkaparinga Valley Road roundabout and River Road is closed.
He warned motorists to not walk, drive or travel through floodwaters.
More than 100 volunteers have been called for flooding assistance after recent heavy rainfall.
Other calls have been for trees down and rockslides across roadways.
Rain moving east
The Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Mark Anolak said 48mm of rain fell in metropolitan Adelaide with 50mm recorded in the Hills since 9am Thursday.
“Thankfully the worst of it has passed,” he said.
“The main low pressure system that’s driving this heavy torrential rainfall has moved into Western Victoria.”
About 2,800 households in Blackwood, Basket Range, Chapel Hill and Hope Valley are without power with SA Power Networks estimating restoration to be this afternoon.