Clarendon Terrace at 10PM Saturday. Photo credit: Resident Jennie Corrin
RESCUE IN ASHBURTON
Canterbury police have been called to a rescue emergency on Walkhams Road in Ashburton to help a person stranded by flood waters.
A police spokesman said the person was not injured.
“They’re just awaiting rescue at the moment. A helicopter has been called.”
Widespread surface flooding has occurred across Christchurch, and the greater Canterbury region.
Nearly 500 houses in Christchurch were without power last night as flood waters knocked out transformers.
A tree has blown over on Centaurus Road, blocking half the road and footpath.
There is significant flooding on main North Road in Belfast, blocking Northbound lanes. Traffic management in place.
There was significant surface flooding on Brougham Street and Waltham Road but was resolved at 6.45am.
There is flooding on Clarendon Terrace and Richardson Terrace, while both sides of road on Anzac Drive in Aranui are flooded with traffic management in place.
A Red Warning for heavy rain remains in force for the region south of Amberley, and an Orange Warning for Heavy Rain is in force for the region from Amberley to Kaikoura.
Metservice said dangerous river conditions and flooding are expected. Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities.
Clarendon Terrace: Photo posted by Claire Verryt
Water flows some of the highest on record
Environment Canterbury said water flows for being recorded in upper Ashburton and Hinds catchments are some of the highest on record.
The agency said as this water moves down through the river system it was expecting to see floodwater breaking out from the river.
“These flows are expected to be higher than the design capacity of the flood protection scheme.”
Teams from Environment Canterbury and Civil Defence are monitoring the situation.
South Canterbury
There has been significant rainfall overnight with NZTA recording the Geraldine area receiving 150 – 180mm rain so far.
Rain is forecast to continue until Monday. River levels are high and rising.
Out of river flooding is expected in low parts of Geraldine near the river, and in low lying areas between Geraldine and Temuka including around the Hae Hae Te Moana and Kakahu rivers and in the Arowhenua area.
One house has flooded in Temuka.
The Orari River is still rising with the possibility of overflow into low lying adjacent land this morning.
Other rivers in the South Canterbury region are high but currently not causing out of river problems. Staff are monitoring the situation.
