This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/04/man-feared-drowned-victoria-floods-storms-sweep-state
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man drowns in Victoria flood waters after storms sweep across state | Man drowns in Victoria flood waters after storms sweep across state |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Authorities have found the body of a man whose car was swept away and submerged in flood waters in central Victoria. | Authorities have found the body of a man whose car was swept away and submerged in flood waters in central Victoria. |
| The man was named as 63-year-old Max Loweke, whose family has owned the local bakery for more than 10 years. | |
| Search crews found Loweke in his car about 7.30am on Monday as the flood water in Seymour, about 100km north of Melbourne, began to go down. He had been on his way to work. | |
| “They’ve had (the bakery) for maybe about 10 or 12 years now,” a local told the Nine Network. “He’s just the most friendliest, friendliest man. An absolutely lovely family.” | “They’ve had (the bakery) for maybe about 10 or 12 years now,” a local told the Nine Network. “He’s just the most friendliest, friendliest man. An absolutely lovely family.” |
| Sergeant Geoff Shaw warned the public to stay out of flood waters. | Sergeant Geoff Shaw warned the public to stay out of flood waters. |
| “We encourage people to be cautious of floods and at no time, whether in a vehicle or on foot, to enter any sort of flood waters. It is extremely dangerous.” | “We encourage people to be cautious of floods and at no time, whether in a vehicle or on foot, to enter any sort of flood waters. It is extremely dangerous.” |
| A member of a nearby SES crew, who was attending a separate storm damage job, witnessed Loweke’s vehicle going into the water. He tied a rope around his waist and reached the car, but it filled with water and submerged. | |
| The police airwing, local officers and SES crews spent the early morning searching for the man. | The police airwing, local officers and SES crews spent the early morning searching for the man. |
| Loweke was a well-regarded member of community sporting clubs, who paid tribute to him and extended sympathy to his family in the hours after his death. | |
| “Every bet placed on a horse now will be done with a tear in our eye and knowing that the great man will be riding it home for us,” the Royals cricket club wrote on Facebook. | |
| The Seymour VRI Bowling Club said members were saddened by the sudden passing of the “esteemed” Loweke. | |
| A minor flood warning remained in place on Monday morning for nearby Hughes Creek, at Tarcombe Road, which peaked at 2.8 metres on Sunday night. | A minor flood warning remained in place on Monday morning for nearby Hughes Creek, at Tarcombe Road, which peaked at 2.8 metres on Sunday night. |
| Crews responded to more than 170 storm-related jobs across Victoria, including three reports of cars trapped in flood waters, trees down and minor building damage. | Crews responded to more than 170 storm-related jobs across Victoria, including three reports of cars trapped in flood waters, trees down and minor building damage. |
| Frankston, in outer Melbourne, was the busiest region, followed by Seymour. | Frankston, in outer Melbourne, was the busiest region, followed by Seymour. |
| Northern Victoria was hit by severe thunderstorms on Sunday, with strong winds in the south continuing to keep emergency crews busy on Monday morning. Heavy rain began pelting the region in the early evening on Sunday, with almost 80mm falling in Graytown within a couple of hours. | Northern Victoria was hit by severe thunderstorms on Sunday, with strong winds in the south continuing to keep emergency crews busy on Monday morning. Heavy rain began pelting the region in the early evening on Sunday, with almost 80mm falling in Graytown within a couple of hours. |
| The Seymour area copped between 40 and 50mm of rain over a few hours. | The Seymour area copped between 40 and 50mm of rain over a few hours. |
| Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Chris Godfred said there was a risk that another thunderstorm could hit the area again on Monday. | Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Chris Godfred said there was a risk that another thunderstorm could hit the area again on Monday. |
| “It does look like the potential for storms is going to be over north central, and extending across western Victoria,” he told AAP. | “It does look like the potential for storms is going to be over north central, and extending across western Victoria,” he told AAP. |
| SES state duty officer David Tucek urged Victorians not to walk, ride or drive through flood water. | SES state duty officer David Tucek urged Victorians not to walk, ride or drive through flood water. |
| “Don’t let your children play near it,” he told 3AW. “Stay away from those waterways and storm drains, and if you do see powerlines down, stay away from those as well.” | “Don’t let your children play near it,” he told 3AW. “Stay away from those waterways and storm drains, and if you do see powerlines down, stay away from those as well.” |
| Related: Victoria bushfires: residents still waiting return to destroyed homes | Related: Victoria bushfires: residents still waiting return to destroyed homes |
| By 9pm on Sunday, the State Emergency Service had responded to 160 assistance calls for storm damage to homes around Victoria, with 100 calls in metropolitan Melbourne, most from the Frankston, Chelsea, Dandenong and Sorrento areas. | By 9pm on Sunday, the State Emergency Service had responded to 160 assistance calls for storm damage to homes around Victoria, with 100 calls in metropolitan Melbourne, most from the Frankston, Chelsea, Dandenong and Sorrento areas. |
| Most of the calls related to minor roof damage, water leaks through ceilings and downed trees, an SES spokeswoman said. | Most of the calls related to minor roof damage, water leaks through ceilings and downed trees, an SES spokeswoman said. |
| As well as Seymour there were reports of water over some roads in the Euroa area, she said. | As well as Seymour there were reports of water over some roads in the Euroa area, she said. |
| Peak gusts above 60km/h occurred in Frankston and Moorabbin, in Melbourne’s southeast, on Sunday afternoon. | Peak gusts above 60km/h occurred in Frankston and Moorabbin, in Melbourne’s southeast, on Sunday afternoon. |
| At their worst, severe storms affected most of the state, hitting the Mallee, Northern Country, Wimmera and North Central forecast districts and parts of the South West, North East and Central regions. | At their worst, severe storms affected most of the state, hitting the Mallee, Northern Country, Wimmera and North Central forecast districts and parts of the South West, North East and Central regions. |
| The storms delivered rain to some parched areas in northern Victoria. More than a month’s average rain fell at Mangalore, near Seymour. It received 40.8mm in the five hours to 9pm on Sunday against its average January rainfall of 39mm. | The storms delivered rain to some parched areas in northern Victoria. More than a month’s average rain fell at Mangalore, near Seymour. It received 40.8mm in the five hours to 9pm on Sunday against its average January rainfall of 39mm. |
| Mildura received 20mm of rain in 40 minutes from 4.50pm. Graytown, south-east of Bendigo, recorded 60mm, while 46.2mm fell at the Campaspe Weir in Elmore, north-east of the goldfields city. | Mildura received 20mm of rain in 40 minutes from 4.50pm. Graytown, south-east of Bendigo, recorded 60mm, while 46.2mm fell at the Campaspe Weir in Elmore, north-east of the goldfields city. |