Tropical storm Chantal swamps Newfoundland

Tropical storm Chantal swamps Newfoundland

CanWest News Service

Published: Wednesday, August 01, 2007

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Tropical storm Chantal pounded Eastern Newfoundland Wednesday with nearly 100 millimetres of rain that flooded highways and left homes in danger of being washed away in the south coast town of Placentia.

The worst flooding was reported in Conception and Placentia bays where 90 millimetres fell in a six-hour period overnight and more was forecast for Wednesday. Some towns were cut off and volunteer firefighters in Placentia commandeered one man's boat to free a man trapped in a car and get him to hospital.

The mayor of Placentia, Bill Hogan, pleaded for people to stay off the roads while crews worked. He described one home where water was flowing in one door and out another.