9,000 Residents In Victoria State Told To Flee - Flood Levels "Off The Charts" - Highest On Record

[hatrack]

ABOUT 9000 Victorians have been told to flee as flooding continues to threaten half a dozen towns including Kerang, where residents who choose to stay could be isolated for a week and left without power. A quarter of the state has been affected by the most significant flooding in Victoria's north since records began 130 years ago.

Authorities warn that Kerang's power station is under threat from rising water and up to 20,000 households should be prepared for extended blackouts. Yesterday 400 people were taken to the NSW town of Barham. Eventually, police said, as much as half of Kerang's population would seek refuge in NSW.

Embankments were continuing to hold in Kerang last night despite some small breaches but the situation will remain precarious into the weekend. Up to 1500 homes may be flooded. The Koondrook-Kerang Road was expected to close last night, shutting off the only remaining road out of town.

About 3000 people have registered at relief centres and more than 1700 properties have been flooded or are at risk. The State Emergency Service's deputy director of operations, Tim Wiebusch, said smaller communities in the state's north-west were under threat including Dimboola, Jeparit, Brim and Beulah, where flood levels were expected to peak in the coming days.

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/levels-are-off-chart-as-9000-told-to-flee-20110119-19wqw.html