Yara river bursts banks, Melbourne under purview of intense floods

MELBOURNE - Melborne’s Yara river has burst its banks, placing the Victoria capital in flood threat mode.

The Age quoted Victoria Police as saying that a number of cars had been swept away in Stubbs Street and Macaulay Road in Kensington.

Roads in South Melbourne North Melbourne, St Kilda, Research, Tarneit and Maribyrnong, have also reportedly come under the purview of intense floods

According to the State Emergency Service, 80 Melbourne homes and a popular pub in the city are in danger of inundation.

SES spokesman Scott Hilditch said 85 millimetres of rain fell on the upper reaches of the Werribee River yesterday, which was coursing down the Werribee and Maribyrnong rivers.

”We’re going to undertaking some doorknocking in Maribyrnong from 3pm this afternoon due to the flooding. For Maribyrnong, near the Angler’s Tavern, the river will peak about 6pm. The water will come close to inundating the pub, and possibly isolate 80 homes,” the paper quoted him, as saying. ‘There will be a second peak tomorrow, obviously, following the amount of rain that has come down today,” Hilditch added.

Meanwhile, VicRoads has reportedly urged residents in the area to be aware of the road closures and avoid travelling outside.

Earlier this week, Queensland also suffered intense flooding conditions, and at least eight people were confirmed dead, while 72 people were reported missing.

Queensland has been hit by the worst flooding in decades due to continuing rains since late November 2010, and about 200,00 people are said to have been affected so far. (ANI)