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Floods in Edgecumbe disrupt life

Sourced Content from Radio New Zealand

Auckland, April 7, 2017

Floodwaters in the Bay of Plenty town of Edgecumbe are expected to remain high this morning and people may be out of their homes for days.

Almost the entire town of 1600 people was evacuated after the Rangitiki River burst its banks, and nearby communities have been cut off by slips and high water.

Floodwaters surged town following days of heavy rain that caused flooding, slips, power cuts and road closures across the North Island and affected parts of Canterbury, including earthquake-hit Kaikura.

Earlier disasters

Edgecumbe is no stranger to disaster; it was struck by an earthquake in 1987 that made the low-lying town particularly flood prone.

Read a summary of what you need to know and follow RNZs live coverage here:

Edgecumbe man Graeme Bourk describes the incredible speed of the approaching flood waters, saying he rushed from house to house telling people to get in their cars and drive before it was too late. Listen to the Morning Report interview here.

These photos from our visual journalist, Brad White, have just come through from Edgecumbe

Whakatane District Mayor Tony Bonne says it will still be days before the breached stock bank in Edgecumbe is repaired – and even longer for the water to recede.

Listen to the interview with Morning Report here.

Tap water safe

The Whakatane District Council said that people are being asked to conserve water, but there is no need to boil water.

It says the treatment plant is struggling to deal with the muddy water in the river, but the tap water is safe although it may not taste great because it is cloudy.

The Council said that despite any reports to the contrary, there is not a boil water notice in place for Whakatane or Ohope.

Earlier, Bay of Plenty Regional Council denied that the management of the dam above Edgecumbe lead to the flooding of the town.

Some local people have pointed the finger of blame at the Matahina dam, saying it caused the deluge in the river which breached the flood wall yesterday.

Floodwall fails

The Councils Roger Waugh, who is in charge of managing the floodwaters including control of the floodgates at the dam, said that the flow was lowered to the minimum level, and was actually an asset during the event.

Mr Waugh said that he gave all the calls about the levels, and managed the out-flow during the whole time.

He said that the flood wall which failed had been there for decades, and went through the last flood – it failed very quickly, and they do not yet know why.

The flood-banks on the Rangitiki River through Edgecumbe effectively collapsed yesterday, and water is still running through some homes in the town.

Mayor puzzled

District Tony Bonne, said, It is still hard to fathom that all of a sudden when a wall just collapses, the world turns on a lot of people. Experts have already told me what could have been done better regarding the concrete wall that collapsed.

He said that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council would complete a full assessment of the banks around midday, to see if it is safe enough to let the people back into the dry parts of the town.

It would be a few days before the actual breach was blocked, he said and only then could the floodwater be pumped out.

We will get to the bottom of it to make sure that we come out stronger on the other side so we will be looking at all those things. I will be talking to the Prime Minister about it later today because we have had a national event here. We want to make sure everything is been done correctly. I can guarantee that once I have talked to the Prime Minister, there will be some sort of investigation to make sure things have been done correctly, he said.

*

Pictures by Brad White for Radio New Zealand

Photo Caption:

  1. Jaw-dropping scene in Edgecombe
  2. Life thrown out of gear in Edgecombe
  3. It would be days before the breached stock bank in Edgecumbe is repaired

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