Edgecumbe evacuates as water swamps the town
NZ Herald, 6 April 2017
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The entire town of Edgecumbe's been told to leave immediately because of a breached stop-bank. The exact number of people being told to leave their homes for higher ground isn't clear but it could be as many as 2000. The Whakatane District Council says the stop bank on College Road has been breached and water is flowing through. People caught out by rising flood water now swamping the town are being told to ring 111 if they need help. Mayor Tony Bonne said buses will take people from the fire station, and welfare centres are being set up in Kawerau and Whakatane. He is calling it a very serious situation and is appealing for people to get out immediately. It's a one-in-500 year flood event, he said. Council spokesman Ross Boreham said police and fire were going house to house telling people to leave immediately. "Most of the town we'll be asking to leave to head to higher ground or go to friends and family where they'll know they will be safe." Whakatane District Council says anyone who has not yet evacuated and requires assistance should call emergency services. Those fleeing the stricken town are being advised to head to Firmin Lodge in Kawerau which has become the area's welfare centre. In Whakatane, people are being told to go to the Salvation Army and the War Memorial Hall. Red Cross disaster management officer Gavin Newton says roads into Whakatane are becoming congested, and motorists need to take extreme care. He says a number of roads are affected by slips and flooding, and anyone that doesn't need to travel should stay off the roads. There are no plans to close the bridge into Whakatane, but people are being urged not to stop on it. Four Red Cross teams are making their way to the area to help support emergency services and the Salvation Army. The public were being asked not to contact the Whakatane Hospital if they required prescription medications as this was causing congestion. Some evacuees had left their meds at home in the rush to leave and were turning up at the hospital accident and emergency department for replacement supplies. Tubb said she had never seen anything like this before. "I'm worried sick. There's really no words, as the panic subsides the shock is setting in. "The most important thing is that everyone has got out safe... Now we just need to put one foot in front of another and get through this." Schools closed Several schools will be closed around Edgecumbe today as residents evacuate. Otakiri School, Te Whare Kura o Ruatoki, Edgecumbe Primary, Edgecumbe College and Taneatua School won't open today, Radio 1XX reported. Additionally Uzabus will not be running buses today, which affects Kawerau South School, Tarawera High School and Te Whatatau School. The Opotiki bus service will still be running in Opotiki, but not from Opotiki to Whakatane, Radio 1XX reported. |
The order to evacuate came at around 8.30am.
Kanuka Place in Edgecumbe.
A crane lifts the wheel house prior to the barge lift, Image source: Bay of Plenty Regional Council
A milk tanker in Gow Road this morning. Photo/News Whakatane
People evacuate Edgecumbe. Photo / John Borren
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The entire town of Edgecumbe has been told to leave immediately because of a breached stop-bank.
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Aerial view of the flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo / George Novak
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