Widespread Flooding In Wairoa

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 1

Widespread Flooding In Wairoa

(New Zealand Press Association) WAIROA, February 12. Widespread flooding in Wairoa today was easing tonight with the outgoing tide but conditions were expected to deteriorate rapidly in the event of heavy rain.

The main road link to Wai-I roa, State Highway No. 2.| was still open late today, although it was reduced to] one lane in several places. ’ The railway line between; Wairoa and Napier was still’ cut tonight after ground was washed away from under it early this morning. It should

•I be reopened by tomorrow , I mooting. Extensive slips on State' '(Highway No. 36. the inland; ' i route from Wairoa to Gis-j I borne, are being cleared, and’ i i this route should be open| I’ later tomorrow. >' State Highway No. 38 is| : open, but the five-mi le stretch I pinking Wairoa with Fraser-

| water up to two feet deep in isonw sections. The Wairoa River reached a peak of about 19 feet above ! its normal level early yester (day afternoon when logs and other debris swirled about four feet below the bridge. The level has since dropped with the outgoing tide. More than eight inches of rain has fallen in Wairoa in the past five days including five inches in the past 36 hours. Farming communities have been isolated by the blockage of many back-country ! roads. Worst hit have been (the Clydebank and Ruakituri Valleys, but livestock losses have not been severe. Reports of evacuations of (families from houses in the Wairoa area are unconfirmed, although it is believed that one family has been evacuated. This occurred when they left their house at (about 4 a.m. on Tuesday 'morning because of rising ; Other residents whose homes and properties are (flooded have reported that they have no intention of ’leaving. ’ All schools in the district were closed today. A decision on reopening will be made to morrow morning. Floor furnishings and furni ture valued at about $15,09(1 were damaged by floodwaters in a Wairoa department store this morning, but other retail ers escaped damage. A possible shortage of drinking water was averted this morning when borough council staff worked to repair a broken main supplying the town. Late tonight the weather ’appeared to be clearing.