AS IT HAPPENED: Bendigo awash
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Businesses throughout Bendigo got a drenching yesterday when heavy rain fell throughout the city.
In Queen Street, the roof collapsed outside the Bargain Buys store, sending live wires dangling on to the street.
Temporary manager Stacey Diss said the plumbing couldn't cope with the deluge and water pooled on the roof.
When it eventually caved, a woman was walking into the store, Ms Diss said.
"I managed to grab her out of the way just in time."
The woman wasn't hurt, just "scared, unbelievably scared", Ms Diss said.
"The whole roof leaked from the middle to the store room," she said.
"The whole shop is leaking water all over the floor."
Many stores in Hargreaves Mall were closed by 4pm, experiencing water damage or power outages.
Myer was evacuated early on due to flooding throughout the store.
Water leaked through the roof and walls of the Commonwealth Bank, and neighboring Banjo’s Bakehouse also had minor water leakages.
The storm water drain in Killian’s Walk overflowed, pouring water into Hargreaves Mall.
Bendigo Original Pie Shop had no water problems due to a new roof installed three years ago.
Co-owner Phil McKee said they were "very happy" with the new roof and excellent drainage.
The rain's quite incredible
- Phil McKee
"The rain's quite incredible, it's really welcome."
He said he hadn't seen heavy rain like it since the drought-breaking rain of 2009/10 when it flooded the entire store.
"Rain was pouring out of the air-conditioner and down the walls."
The Coles in Lyttleton Terrace, Big W at the Bendigo Marketplace, the NAB on the corner of Mitchell and Queen streets, and Bendigo Toyota at Epsom all reported water damage.
At Lansell Square in Kangaroo Flat, at least three shops suffered water damage due to multiple leaks.
The Liquorland store was flooded after clay coloured water flowed in from the car park outside.
Part of the roof was also damaged and the ceiling caved in outside the EB Games store.
An employee of a nearby store said she’d heard the incident before she’d seen it.
“I just heard a big gush and came out,” she said.
-with CHRIS PEDLER