Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 09:45
Katherine residents flee rising river
Email Print Normal font Large font April 6, 2006 - 8:11AM
Residents in the Northern Territory town of
Katherine have begun evacuating as the river threatens to flood the town.
Nursing
home residents and hospital patients were being moved overnight and households have been told to go to local schools if they need to leave their homes.
The
Katherine River had reached 18.5 metres, police spokeswoman Katie Wolf said.
"The river's still not actually over the
bridge but there's water on the road," she said.
Ms Wolf said she had not been told of any residents being evacuated, but information was difficult to obtain as she was stuck on the other side of the river.
"We're literally stranded," she told AAP.
The ABC has reported about 50 homes in the north and south of the town would already be about half a metre under water.
The
Katherine Regional Counter Disaster Committee warns that the river is expected to peak at around 19 metres by 10 am (CST).
Regional controller Kate Vanderlaan said last night emergency workers were evacuating the
Katherine Hospital and a nursing
home.
They are believed to be relocated at the RAAF base in Tindal.
Commander Vanderlaan said a flood siren would sound if other residents needed to move.
"If anyone feels uncomfortable remaining in their
home, then they may evacuate, but we will sound the alert should evacuation become necessary," she said.
"Anyone wishing to evacuate can go to the
Katherine High School or Casuarina Street Primary School.
"But I would encourage people to wait for any instruction to evacuate," she said.
Schools in
Katherine will be closed today as a precaution, Ms Vanderlaan said.
Late yesterday, water was also rising in the community of
Beswick, near
Katherine.
The Central Arnhem Road
Bridge was under 2.5 metres of water and the level was expected to steadily rise.
Ms Wolf said a counter-disaster meeting was planned for 9am (CST) today.
AAP
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165191