SERIOUS FLOOD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 8

SERIOUS FLOOD

DAMAGE ON WEST COAST SEQUEL TO EARTHQUAKE (Per Press Association.) WE.STPORT, this day. The Karamea River, rising very rapidly, Inst evening inundated the township ana caused serious damage to property and heavy loss of stock. '.Hie road was scoured out in many places, and a small bridge washed away. At Arapito the water was 2ft. high in the township, and up to the doorstep of the Post Office. Many homes were invaded by water. A small coastal vessel, the Kotiti, was in port at the time, but she is sale. Although it has not definitely been established, it is thought that an earthquake dam lias given way. Although heavy rain had been falling, it was not sufficient tc cause such a ilood. An enormous amount of timber was brought down, and the water was as thick as pea soup, very similar to the disastrous flood at Seddonville. The flood was at the peak of the tide, at 11 o'clock last evening, Lut the river is now falling. Arapito suffered considerably, much dairving lend being badly silted up.

The details at present are meagre, but the damage is'rcported to he very extensive, especially to stock.