Police Launch Search for Man Swept Away in Central Australia Floodwaters

Northern Territory Police have initiated a search and rescue operation for a 60-year-old man who is believed to have been carried away by floodwaters near a remote Central Australian community. Emergency services were alerted to the situation early Wednesday morning following an incident that occurred late Tuesday evening near Santa Teresa, located roughly 80 kilometres south of Alice Springs.

Vehicle Trapped in Rising Creek

According to a police spokesperson, authorities received a report around 6:50 am on Wednesday detailing how a vehicle carrying a man and a woman became stuck in a creek along Phillipson Bore Road at approximately 7:00 pm the previous night. Rising waters forced both occupants to climb onto the roof of the vehicle for safety. At some point during the ordeal, the 60-year-old man was reportedly swept off the roof by the floodwaters.

The woman managed to leave the scene and walk back to Santa Teresa, also known as Ltyentye Apurte, a remote Aboriginal community with a population of approximately 700 residents. Upon her arrival on Wednesday morning, she reported the man missing to local law enforcement.

Search Operation and Local Conditions

A specialized Search and Rescue team has been mobilized to locate the missing man. The response includes police officers from both the Alice Springs and Santa Teresa stations, supported by police divers and aerial drone technology. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the missing man's whereabouts to contact police immediately.

The incident follows a stretch of severe weather throughout Central Australia, where recent forecasts included warnings for heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and hail. Ellie Kamara, head of the local Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation, reported that roughly 45.5 millimetres of rain has fallen near Santa Teresa since Sunday. She noted that local creek levels rise rapidly during heavy downpours and confirmed that recent rainfall has caused significant damage to the main road connecting the community to Alice Springs.