Towns smashed by thousands of megalitres of water as Wyangala Dam spills

Dramatic footage has captured an Australian road being torn apart as a result of major flooding.

An incredible video shows a country Victorian road torn in half as a result of heavy rains.

The footage, which was released by the Indigo Shire Council in Victoria’s far north, features Gooramadda Rd, near the Victorian and NSW border.

What started out as a sinkhole…

Today’s reminder to take care when driving through flood-impacted areas. Never enter floodwater - you never know what’s lurking beneath.

🎥 Gooramadda Road, Rutherglen, courtesy of Indigo Shire Council pic.twitter.com/Xta0ZY3ZRJ

— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) November 15, 2022

“Within 24 hours, what appeared to be as a small sinkhole has now totally eroded a large section of the road,” the Shire said in a statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

Gooramudda Rd, in Victoria’s far north, has been split in half as a result of heavy rain, according to the local council. Picture: Indigo Shire Council

The Shire of Indigo said the erosion began as a small sinkhole. Picture: Indigo Shire Council

It comes as another terrifying video shows the moment a major dam in Central West NSW spills hundreds of thousands of litres of water onto regional communities as the area is hit with its heaviest rainfall in 118 years.

The Wyangala Dam is releasing a record 230,000 megalitres a day, threatening communities along the Lachlan River, as even more evacuation orders were issued on Tuesday morning.

“Our communities in the Central West have been battered and bruised and they are in the firing line again,” Premier Dominic Perrottet told reporters.

Over the last 24 hours, there have been more than 900 requests for assistance and 222 flood rescues.

Residents in low lying parts of Cowra have been told to evacuate, including those in the caravan park as it was revealed the town received 121 millimetres of rain over the weekend – the highest daily rainfall for the town in 118 years.

A shipping container making its way down main street, is not a sight you see everyday in the little village of Molong. Nearly 90mms of rain in Orange hasn’t helped it’s cause either. @7NEWSCentWest@7NewsSydney@7NewsAustralia#nswfloodspic.twitter.com/2bES1FzaSN

— Christopher Tan (@christophert77) November 13, 2022

Incredible footage of water spilling from Wyangala Dam after heavy rainfall. Picture: NSW RFS

A record 230,000 megalitres a day is being released. Picture: NSW RFS

The sun was shining over Cowra on Tuesday as locals watched as floodwaters began to recede, just 16 hours after the area was closed off.

Meanwhile, Forbes residents living in low-lying areas were told to evacuate by 7am Tuesday as the swollen Lachlan River was rising quickly, though many have yet to return home since the last event two weeks ago.

The town is expected to break the 1952 flood record of 10.79m before the end of the week.

“We were only there two weeks ago. They have gone through flood event after flood event,” Mr Perrottet said.

“I know there is a lot of suffering right now but we will get every one of these communities back on their feet.

Eugowra residents are reportedly using social media to headcount the population of 700 people.

Fourteen pets, including dogs, cats, and a turtle, were rescued in a Life Flight chopper on Monday.

The NSW SES has already performed 150 flood rescues, while more people are stranded on rooftops and in trees.

CANOWINDRA: Continue to avoid the area due to flooding. Canowindra Rd remains closed between Gaskill St and Canowindra St, with local roads also closed. pic.twitter.com/b2AXM7gx1S

— Live Traffic NSW (@LiveTrafficNSW) November 14, 2022

UPDATE: Henry Parkes Way remains closed. Use an alternative route, plan your journey, never drive through floodwater pic.twitter.com/Or3uZKesU6

— Live Traffic NSW (@LiveTrafficNSW) November 14, 2022

“This means with a population of 700, more than one in five residents have been rescued by helicopter or boat,” Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said on Monday.

Patches of blue skies have opened up over the Central West on Tuesday morning, but the worst is far from over.

There are 120 flood warnings in place across the state, including 24 emergencies.

Bathurst is expected to break another historic flood record of 6.7m recorded more than two decades ago in 1998.

NSW SES rescued 150 Eugowra residents from floodwaters. Picture: NSW SES

More than one in five residents of the town have been rescued. Picture: NSW SES.

Twelve flood rescue operators from New Zealand will arrive in Parkes on Tuesday to support SES and local volunteers.

Canowindra residents remain under evacuation orders and the nearby town of Molong was completely isolated by floodwaters, with some residents unable to evacuate due to flash flooding.

Molong RSL president Mary Mulhall told NCA NewsWire that hundreds of locals had walked through the doors of their community-led evacuation centre.

“No one expected it to be this bad,” Ms Mulhall said. “It was just so quick, so fast.”

Molong businesses suffered significant damage from fast-moving floodwaters. Picture: Christopher Tan

Residents have pulled together to clean up the streets less than 24 hours after flash floods. Picture: Christopher Tan

The town and SES volunteers have pulled together to clean up the streets just 24 hours after floodwaters ripped through local businesses.

“Some of the people who came here yesterday, they just looked blank and couldn't believe the devastation that happened in such a short time,” Ms Mulhall said.

“But we will bounce back, we’re resilient people.”

Emergency crews were called to assist six vehicles in floodwaters at Woodstock after a bridge washed away.

Low-lying parts of Gooloogong are under evacuate now orders due to major floodwaters, with an evacuation centre set up at Gooloogong Country Club on Nelligan Lane.

Flooding in Eugowra in the state’s Central West. Picture: Supplied

Eugowra residents had to be rescued by Life Flight helicopters as homes were inundated by floods. Picture: Life Flight

Two children had a lucky escape in Albury on the NSW/Victoria border when the SES was able to pull them out of harm’s way while they played in a storm drain.

Victoria

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued alerts for minor to major flooding for the Murray and Edward rivers in Victoria.

Residents in Albury, Corowa, Yarrawonga, Tocumwal, Echuca, Moama, Torrumbarry, Barham, Swan Hill, Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend, Euston, Mildura, Wentworth, Deniliquin, Stevens Weir and Moulamein should continue to monitor weather alerts.

Moderate flooding is likely in Wangaratta and across northeast Victoria.

South Australia

Thousands of South Australian school students will not be able to attend school for the second day due to storm damage and power outages across the weekend.

There are more than 20 public preschools, primary and high schools in Adelaide that will need to remain closed on Tuesday.

The full list of schools are listed on the Department of Education’s Facebook page.

More 160,000 properties were without power over the weekend after lightning storms lashed the state.

On Monday, more than 34,000 homes were still without power after widespread storms and lightning strikes downed power lines across the state.