Calls for help amid Victoria flooding

MELBOURNE: Heavy rain has caused flooding, building damage and fallen trees across parts of Victoria prompting hundreds of calls for help, while thousands of properties were without power.

More than 370 calls had been made to the State Emergency Service in the 24 hours to 12.30pm yesterday with 283 requests still outstanding.

The majority of requests were for flooding and building damage.

About 4300 Victorians were without power with some outages due to lightning strikes, the energy companies’ websites said.

The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe weather warning for Melbourne and eastern parts of the state for heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Up to another 15mm of rain was predicted across western parts of the warning area late yesterday. — AAP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Stormy . . . Water builds up in the mounting yard yesterday before race 2 during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Australia.