Daly River residents airlifted from Northern Territory community as floodwaters rise, Darwin dam spills

Updated January 30, 2018 10:40:04

Helicopters are being used to evacuate hundreds of residents from the flood-affected Daly River community in the Northern Territory, while Darwin River Dam has started to spill, prompting warnings to nearby residents.

Residents began arriving at the evacuation centre in Darwin's showgrounds late last night when a major flood warning was issued.

About 380 people will be forced to leave their homes, with some leaving in the previous days before roads around the community were inaccessible.

"Two helicopters made it into the community yesterday and withdrew seven people, but [today] we will be ramping up that evacuation," Northern Command commander Tony Fuller said.

"Only seven came out last night, we're limited on how many helicopters we can get in.

"It'll be a fairly long day and we're obviously going to be watching the weather very closely so we can minimise the risk to people."

The town had been on standby to evacuate for several days, as monsoonal rains battered the area.

The river levels are expected to peak later today, with 216 millimetres having already fallen at Daly River Police Station since 9:00am on Monday.

Darwin River Dam spills

Residents in Darwin's rural area were warned to prepare for possible flash flooding as Darwin River Dam reached capacity and started to spill.

Darwin and its rural area have been lashed with heavy rain and damaging winds for several days, bringing flooding and seeing rainfall records tumble.

Power and Water said spilling from the dam was normal and had frequently occurred during previous wet seasons.

The dam is designed to overflow to reduce pressure on its wall, but during an overflow river levels downstream may rise rapidly and suddenly change water levels at road crossings.

The rain and high tides have forced floodwaters over the bridge at Berry Creek, closing Cox Peninsula Road to commuters for the third morning in a row.

Flood warnings, more severe weather ahead

Elsewhere, a moderate flood warning is in place for the Adelaide River, a minor warning for the Katherine River and the North West and Bonaparte Coastal Rivers remain on a flood watch.

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds has been issued for the Daly, Tiwi and parts of Arnhem and Gregory districts, which may lead to flash flooding.

It will affect residents in Darwin, Wadeye, Wurrumiyanga, Nauiyu, Nhulunbuy, Adelaide River, Jabiru, Milikapiti, Timber Creek and Pirlangimpi.

In Darwin, 147 millimetres of rainfall has fallen at Stokes Hill since 9:00am on Monday.

An active monsoon trough has brought heavy rainfall and squally showers to the Top End for more than a week, seeing Telstra outages, power blackouts and sweeping cars off roads.

First posted January 30, 2018 08:49:01

Daly River residents airlifted from Northern Territory community as floodwaters rise, Darwin dam spills

Updated January 30, 2018 10:40:04

Helicopters are being used to evacuate hundreds of residents from the flood-affected Daly River community in the Northern Territory, while Darwin River Dam has started to spill, prompting warnings to nearby residents.

Residents began arriving at the evacuation centre in Darwin's showgrounds late last night when a major flood warning was issued.

About 380 people will be forced to leave their homes, with some leaving in the previous days before roads around the community were inaccessible.

"Two helicopters made it into the community yesterday and withdrew seven people, but [today] we will be ramping up that evacuation," Northern Command commander Tony Fuller said.

"Only seven came out last night, we're limited on how many helicopters we can get in.

"It'll be a fairly long day and we're obviously going to be watching the weather very closely so we can minimise the risk to people."

The town had been on standby to evacuate for several days, as monsoonal rains battered the area.

The river levels are expected to peak later today, with 216 millimetres having already fallen at Daly River Police Station since 9:00am on Monday.

Darwin River Dam spills

Residents in Darwin's rural area were warned to prepare for possible flash flooding as Darwin River Dam reached capacity and started to spill.

Darwin and its rural area have been lashed with heavy rain and damaging winds for several days, bringing flooding and seeing rainfall records tumble.

Power and Water said spilling from the dam was normal and had frequently occurred during previous wet seasons.

The dam is designed to overflow to reduce pressure on its wall, but during an overflow river levels downstream may rise rapidly and suddenly change water levels at road crossings.

The rain and high tides have forced floodwaters over the bridge at Berry Creek, closing Cox Peninsula Road to commuters for the third morning in a row.

Flood warnings, more severe weather ahead

Elsewhere, a moderate flood warning is in place for the Adelaide River, a minor warning for the Katherine River and the North West and Bonaparte Coastal Rivers remain on a flood watch.

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds has been issued for the Daly, Tiwi and parts of Arnhem and Gregory districts, which may lead to flash flooding.

It will affect residents in Darwin, Wadeye, Wurrumiyanga, Nauiyu, Nhulunbuy, Adelaide River, Jabiru, Milikapiti, Timber Creek and Pirlangimpi.

In Darwin, 147 millimetres of rainfall has fallen at Stokes Hill since 9:00am on Monday.

An active monsoon trough has brought heavy rainfall and squally showers to the Top End for more than a week, seeing Telstra outages, power blackouts and sweeping cars off roads.

First posted January 30, 2018 08:49:01

Daly River residents airlifted from Northern Territory community as floodwaters rise, Darwin dam spills

Updated January 30, 2018 10:40:04

Helicopters are being used to evacuate hundreds of residents from the flood-affected Daly River community in the Northern Territory, while Darwin River Dam has started to spill, prompting warnings to nearby residents.

Residents began arriving at the evacuation centre in Darwin's showgrounds late last night when a major flood warning was issued.

About 380 people will be forced to leave their homes, with some leaving in the previous days before roads around the community were inaccessible.

"Two helicopters made it into the community yesterday and withdrew seven people, but [today] we will be ramping up that evacuation," Northern Command commander Tony Fuller said.

"Only seven came out last night, we're limited on how many helicopters we can get in.

"It'll be a fairly long day and we're obviously going to be watching the weather very closely so we can minimise the risk to people."

The town had been on standby to evacuate for several days, as monsoonal rains battered the area.

The river levels are expected to peak later today, with 216 millimetres having already fallen at Daly River Police Station since 9:00am on Monday.

Darwin River Dam spills

Residents in Darwin's rural area were warned to prepare for possible flash flooding as Darwin River Dam reached capacity and started to spill.

Darwin and its rural area have been lashed with heavy rain and damaging winds for several days, bringing flooding and seeing rainfall records tumble.

Power and Water said spilling from the dam was normal and had frequently occurred during previous wet seasons.

The dam is designed to overflow to reduce pressure on its wall, but during an overflow river levels downstream may rise rapidly and suddenly change water levels at road crossings.

The rain and high tides have forced floodwaters over the bridge at Berry Creek, closing Cox Peninsula Road to commuters for the third morning in a row.

Flood warnings, more severe weather ahead

Elsewhere, a moderate flood warning is in place for the Adelaide River, a minor warning for the Katherine River and the North West and Bonaparte Coastal Rivers remain on a flood watch.

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds has been issued for the Daly, Tiwi and parts of Arnhem and Gregory districts, which may lead to flash flooding.

It will affect residents in Darwin, Wadeye, Wurrumiyanga, Nauiyu, Nhulunbuy, Adelaide River, Jabiru, Milikapiti, Timber Creek and Pirlangimpi.

In Darwin, 147 millimetres of rainfall has fallen at Stokes Hill since 9:00am on Monday.

An active monsoon trough has brought heavy rainfall and squally showers to the Top End for more than a week, seeing Telstra outages, power blackouts and sweeping cars off roads.

First posted January 30, 2018 08:49:01