Radio Brisvaani
A search is underway for three people missing in Central Australia following record rainfalls and flooding in the region.
The trio were reported missing after they left the West Australian community of Kiwirrkurra on their way to Kintore in the Northern Territory.
Their vehicle is believed to be bogged in a remote area, according to the ABC.
However conditions are now easing and an aerial search is set to begin.
Almost a quarter of the 400 people in the Kintore community had to take shelter in the school due to the unusually heavy rain.
Uluru National Park has today reopened after record-breaking rain and flash flooding, caused by a deep low pressure system, closed the park yesterday.
The Walungurru district recorded 232mm of rain in 24 hours, cutting off roads and washing out walking tracks.
Park Manager Mike Misso said rangers had been out assessing damage from the deluge since 5.30am today.
“We’re doing some works today to secure some of the more popular walks, so the park’s definitely open but there will be some areas that remain closed due to heavy erosions on the walking tracks,” Mr Misso said.
All vehicle tracks in the park have also reopened.
Mr Misso said the rainfall event wasn’t entirely unexpected, as summer is technically the wet season even in the country’s arid centre.
However the extent of the event had caught even locals by surprise.
“Speaking to some of the rangers who’ve been here a long time they haven’t seen rain like this for several years,” Mr Misso said.
There was 61.4mm of rain in one hour on Christmas night alone, which the Bureau of Meteorology described as a one-in-50-year rainfall event.
Twenty-five houses in the community of Kintore were flooded and dozens were evacuated at the height of the flooding.
The town square of Yulara was flooded and had to be pumped out by the local fire service.
Mr Misso said the upside was the inundation would provide Uluru visitors with spectacular views.
“The desert landscape is like a sponge, it sucks up the water very rapidly,” he said.
“What we’ll see over the next few weeks and months is an explosion of rich vegetation. The desert will bloom.”
