Melbourne floods: Anglers Tavern, Maribyrnong, submerged in floodwaters

A popular pub in Melbourne’s west has been submerged in floodwaters as thousands of locals remain on high alert.

The ground floor and beer garden of the Anglers Tavern in Maribyrnong became inundated on Friday morning after a night of heavy rainfall.

Residents in nearby Burton Crescent, Chifley Drive and Clive St have been ordered to leave their homes.

The Anglers Tavern is a popular bistro and bar located next to the Maribyrnong River’s banks.

Photos of the scene show floodwaters submerging the lower half of the building, with its windows well beneath surface level.

Victorian SES state commander Josh Gamble said “above-floor inundation” would affect up to 60 houses in Maribyrnong throughout the day.

“That is quite significant and we haven’t had that many flood rescues for quite some time, for some years in fact,” he told ABC Radio.

“Many of these people are putting their own lives at risk, their own children in some circumstances but, more importantly, other community members and responders and that’s in all parts of the state, not just metropolitan areas.”

The floodwaters are expected to peak at 3.8m later on Friday.

Thousands of Victorians have been forced to flee their homes as heavy rain hammers three states, causing widespread flooding.

Large parts of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania were hit with heavy rain on Thursday night.

Residents in Victorian towns have been told to leave, as swollen rivers threaten communities.

Those in the central and northeastern parts of the state are most affected.

A “too late to leave” order was issued for low-lying areas of Benalla and Baddaginnie in the state’s northeast.

An evacuation order was issued at 3am, but residents who had not evacuated have been urged to shelter in the highest location possible.

The Broken River at Benalla is at 4.01m and rising and may reach the major flood level (4.5m) on Friday morning.

An evacuation order has been issued in Wedderburn where the The Skinners Flat Reservoir is likely to breach.

Dozens of Melbourne suburbs were also put on alert as the threat of flooding grew on Thursday night.

Essendon, Footscray, Moonee Ponds and Keilor were among the areas where residents were told to “act now”.

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