RELATED: Bendigo awash: LIVE COVERAGE
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RELATED: Two units evacuated in Eaglehawk
HEAVY rain pelted Bendigo on Friday, flooding homes and forcing the closure of shops in the CBD.
The Bendigo SES unit responded to more than 100 calls for help, mainly for water damage and trees.
SES spokesperson Natalie Stanway said roof damage was reported across Bendigo and Marong.
Volunteers were expected to remain busy overnight.
Many shops in the CBD closed their doors after a severe storm hit the region shortly after 3pm.
Myer, Cotton On, Coles in Lyttleton Terrace, Big W at the Bendigo Marketplace all reported water damage as rain continued to tumble.
Peter Anthony Menswear shop assistant Karen Hasthorpe said the storm was ferocious.
"It was torrential. Like a typhoon," she said.
Store manager Robbie Bayliss said rain leaked through the roof, into the upstairs storage area and into the ground floor shop.
"I ran around like a maniac upstairs moving the stock. None of it was damaged but we'll need to have a pretty big clean-up," he said.
It was torrential. Like a typhoon
- Karen Hasthorpe
At Kangaroo Flat, part of the ceiling at Lansell Square shopping centre collapsed.
Several units were flooded in Victoria Lane in Eaglehawk.
Property owners in Holdsworth Road also reported flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 23.2 millimetres of rain at Bendigo Airport between 3.30 and 5.30pm but the Bendigo Advertiser received unofficial reports of 54mm at Kangaroo Flat and 71mm in Bendigo.
Heavy rainfalls are tipped to continue for the next three days.
The SES and Bendigo police urged residents to avoid waterways and respect the road conditions.
The warning comes after three parked cars in Nolan Street suffered water damage after the deluge hit.
The Calder Highway was closed on the outskirts of the city, while police controlled traffic on several roads across town.
Ms Stanway urged people needing help to contact the SES on 132 500, but to expect delays, with volunteers attending to a high number of callouts.
- with AAP
More coverage from the Bendigo deluge - Pages 10-14
