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2010-01-31 12:50:27 - Extreme Weather - New Zealand EDIS CODE: ST-20100131-24752-NZL
Date & Time: 2010-01-31 12:50:27 [UTC]
Area: New Zealand, , Northern Island-wide, Damage level: Heavy (Level 3)
Not confirmed information! Description: Flooding and slips have closed roads, prompted evacuations and isolated rural communities as heavy rain continues to hammer the eastern North Island. Gisborne was particularly hard-hit on Sunday, with heavy rain leading to the evacuation of more than 20 people and forcing the closure of two major roads in the region. Widespread slips and flooding prompted the closure of State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo about 2pm. The road was reopened for several hours on Sunday evening but would remain closed overnight as contractors worked to clear slips. The New Zealand Transport Agency would reassess the closure on morning. Flooding also forced the closure of SH2 between Dymock Rd and Whatatutu Rd, near Te Karaka, 32km northwest of Gisborne. Fifteen people trapped by two areas of flooding were airlifted to Gisborne by helicopter, while about 40 cars heading to Gisborne from the Bay of Plenty were forced to turn back, Gisborne Civil Defence emergency management officer Richard Steele said. Water in the area was still rising and it was not known when the road would reopen. Road closures also cut off rural communities, with more than 30 people at Waipaoa Station, north of Te Karaka, left isolated on Sunday night after rising floodwaters and debris buckled a bridge on the Waipaoa River. "They're a remote farming community used to looking after themselves, so they'll be coping," Steele said. "River levels have dropped after reaching a height of 8.5m, but we expect a lot more rain." The bridge would be assessed on Tuesday at the earliest, he said. "I don't think we'll get in there earlier because there's too much damage on the road to where they are."
Meanwhile, six people north of Tolaga Bay, Gisborne, were twice evacuated from their homes on Sunday. The Mangatuna village residents were moved out on Sunday morning as the Uawa River rose from it usual 4m to 11m. They were allowed to return several hours later but were evacuated again on Sunday afternoon as a precaution due to the uncertainty of the weather, Steele said. More than 280mmm of rain had fallen in some areas around Gisborne in the past 36 hours, Steele said. The MetService said Gisborne and Hawke's Bay could receive a further 50 to 80mm rain overnight, with up to 20mm falling an hour, before it was expected to ease on Monday morning. The risk of heavy flooding would continue overnight but would ease on Monday. The Bay of Plenty and Coromandel were also expected to receive heavy downpours on Sunday night, with up to 100mm rain in some areas, easing from the afternoon to early evening. Police were advising motorists to be cautious.
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