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Flooding Causes Havoc In South Australia

More than 20,000 homes are still without power.
The North Para river has broken its banks.
ABC news
The North Para river has broken its banks.

South Australia has been battered by strong winds, wild weather and a statewide blackout -- and now a downpour has prompted floodwaters to rise, forcing people to flee.

Seventy three millimetres of rain has been recorded within 36 hours in catchment areas. Up to 80mm was received by north-western areas of the state yesterday, while Adelaide received up to 40mm in some parts.

In the Barossa Valley, campers were rushed to safety after the North Para River broke its banks.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a major flood warning has been issued for the Gawler River catchment, impacting the nearby town. The river is expected to peak sometime this morning. There's also a moderate flood warning for the Torrens and Onkaparinga rivers.

The SES has issued media statements that major flooding will occur along the North Para River, between Nuriootpa and Turretfield Dam. The South Para reservoir has reached capacity and is overflowing.

The wine regions, Barossa and Clare Valley have also been deluged. A dam has burst at Sevenhill, in the Clare Valley, and is posing a real threat to the small town.

Overnight in Adelaide, wind gusts reached up to 90 kilometres an hour and up to 120 kilometres an hour on Kangaroo Island.

People have been advised to watch out for fallen trees and power lines and to steer clear of creek and storm drains. Motorists have been warned against driving through flood water.

More than 20,000 homes are still without power and the SA government has declared a "Period of Emergency" to help manage power supplies. The entire state was hit with a blackout on Wednesday afternoon after one of the most extreme weather systems to hit South Australia in fifty years.

The 'mega storm' gathering strength across South Australia.
Fairfax
The 'mega storm' gathering strength across South Australia.

The flooding has caused scores of roads to be closed - South Australians are advised to check www.traffic.sa.gov.au before driving anywhere.

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