Search in the Tanami for stranded motorists

More than 100mm fell across vast areas of the desert yesterday during the passage of ex tropical cyclone Esther.

Police have launched a search for the two men believed to be stranded on the Tanami Road.

Earlier search efforts by Tanami Mine employees located a broken down bus with 18 people; 16 adults and two children, who had been stranded by localised flooding at the Lajamanu and Tanami Road turn off.

Police received a report the two men were travelling on the Tanami Road when rising local waterways caused them to become stranded around 5.30pm yesterday.

Workers from the nearby Tanami Mining Camp and remote police officers are currently on route to the pair.

The broken down bus is believed to have been towed to a roadside rest stop by another motorist, before localised flooding left the group stranded at around 5.30pm yesterday.

Motorists are advised to avoid and defer any travel in the area as even more heavy rain is expected in the coming days.

Police urge anyone who is planning to travel across the NT to check for road closures and conditions prior to travel. Go to www.roadreport.nt.gov.au

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