HUNDREDS OF CARS TRAPPED

Chronicle (Levin), 16 June 1949, Page 5

HUNDREDS OF CARS TRAPPED

Reeeived Wednesday 7.15 . p.m. SYDNEY, June 15. Rain is continuing over most of New South Wales following this morning 's heaviest June downpour for 53 years. More rain and winds of . gale force for Sydney and *tke central - and south coasts, are foreeast by the Weather Bureau this afternoon. It is believed that ; before this month is out, all*. June rainfall records will go. In the first 15 days 959 points have been recorded' in Sydney. The average for the -whole of. June is 368 points and the highest for the^ month, 1630 points, was recorded 111" 1885. . To-day's r^in was unable to escape through the water channels and turne-i parts of the. eity and suburbs into wide wastes of water sometimes feet deep. Hundreds of automobileS -were trapped ra the flooded areas and water, hanking up on one of the main traffic routes, completely subfiierged a small car. In other areas cars were submerged to the hood tops. When the lid of a storm-water drain blew off under the' pressure, in one subsurb, U huge waterspout engulfed a taxi. The driver and passenger had to wade waist deep to a higher level. Trains were brought to a standstili and raeing water and daniaged roads forced the most chaotic transport conditions. . in the .city 's history. Many homes, shops and factories were badly flooded. At one stage over 100 tram& were banked up while passenger.-; tramped in bare feet through water often a foot deep. The flooding is subsiding as the stormwater drains deal with the burdeu but the possibility of further damage has not, receded.