UPDATE ISSUED AT 8AM: Last night (Tuesday) SA SES was made aware of a privately-owned dam which is showing signs of structural failure to the dam wall, less than 500m upstream of Echunga.

Due to the high risk of the wall collapsing, SA SES has issued an emergency alert to people in homes which have the potential to flood, to advise them to prepare for flooding and to relocate to a safer location. A safer location could be with family or friends outside the risk area, or to the Echunga Football Club

The SA SES, SA Police and the SA Country Fire Service have been working overnight and will continue working today to notify households of the risk of flooding, close roads to support community safety and monitor the condition of the dam.

SA SES is also continuing to work on lowering the level of the dam through the excavation of a spillway and pumping. This has the potential to release water which may exceed the capacity of the drainage system of Echunga, which may cause parts of Echunga to flood.

Highly trained personnel from emergency services, including SA SES Swift Water Rescue Technicians, will remain on site until the risk has subsided.

Community members who wish to receive sandbags can collect these from Echunga CFS station at 44 Adelaide Rd, Echunga.

Sandbagging information can be found on the SES website: https://ses.sa.gov.au/flood/before-a-flood/sandbagging/

ALERT ISSUED AT 5:24AM

The SES has issued a dam failure emergency warning for Echunga, telling people to follow their emergency plan now.

The dam is estimated to contain 10 megalitres of water and is on a hill, on a farm located on Marianna Street.

Multiple SES crews have been called to the incident, from as a far away as Salisbury.

All roads into Echunga are currently closed:

- Aldgate-Strathalbyn Road is closed at Echunga road.

- Echunga Road is closed at Aldgate-Strathalbyn Road.

- Battunga Road is closed at Meadows Road.

- Strathalbyn Road is closed at Sophia Street.

- Church hill Road is closed at Old Mount Barker Road.

SAPOL says the dam is about to burst and residents need to relocate outside the area (if safe to do so) or to the Echunga Football club. SAPOL and SES officers have been contacting residents.

About 95 homes are in the high-risk zone and SAPOL says they believe all of these residents have now been advised of the situation.

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This Dam Failure Emergency Warning message is issued for Echunga

A dam IS failing in Echunga which will threaten you and your family's safety.

What you should do:

• Follow your Emergency Plan now
• Prepare your family and home for flooding in your area
• Move items of value to a safe place
• If your plan is to leave, if you require time to leave or if you are not prepared, you should consider leaving now. Only leave if you are certain that the path is clear to a safer place.
• For SES assistance phone 132 500. If the matter is life-threatening call 000 (triple zero).

• Relocate to the home of family or friends outside the warning area or to the safer place at the Echunga Football Club

This message was issued by the State Emergency Service.

Impacts in your area:

• Be aware that floodwaters may rise rapidly and are likely to be fast moving.
• Do not let children play in or near floodwater and drains.
• Do not walk, ride or drive through floodwater.

Stay informed: 

• Check the SES website at www.ses.sa.gov.au
• Monitor local conditions and tune in to your local ABC on a battery-powered radio for updates
• Call the SA Emergency infoline on 1800362361
• People who are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, can contact the SA Emergency infoline via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 727 (TTY users 1800 555 677)
• Follow the SES on Twitter (@SA_SES) or Facebook (SA State Emergency Service)
• For weather warnings and forecasts visit www.bom.gov.au
• 
  

Message Name: Echunga_Dam

This message is valid from: 28/09/2022 05:25:00

The next update is expected by 28/09/2022 11:00:00, or as the situation changes.

Please avoid the area. Visit www.traffic.sa.gov.au for live road closure information.