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Surface flooding in Southland is expected to worsen later this afternoon with high tide approaching.
The Southland coast from Riverton to the Catlins, including Invercargill, has been hit by flooding, after a day of constant rain.
Southland civil defense controller Angus McKay said there was flooding in rural areas and in towns in the Riverton-Otautau area through Winton, Mokoreta, Wyndham, Gore, Fortrose and Tokanui.
As the high tide hit the region around 4.30, more residential areas were affected.
Properties on Grant Rd, Otatara, have had their garages flooded and one has had water inside.
Water is now being pumped out of the area and several drains are being cleaned to help with this. No one has been evacuated.
In Invercargill, properties at Bainfield and Retreat Rds and Venus St have also been affected by the flooding.
Alternative accommodation has been offered to residents of the Venus St.
People are advised to avoid traveling in the Southland if possible, due to the flooding affecting several highways.
McKay said the contractors were signing as many roads as possible, but they struggled to get everywhere and have enough signs.
Heavy rains have also caused slips on Stewart Island and the Catlins as well.
Emergency Management Southland has opened its emergency coordination center in response to the floods.
McKay said he urged Invercargill and Southland residents to avoid non-essential travel, even in the city, where water could be pushed onto low-lying properties by cars running through ankle-deep water in some places.
Southern District Police said there had been “significant flooding” in Riverton and several streets had been blocked.
People were asked to avoid Taramea Bay and Walker Street, “as walking these roads pushes the water into the houses.”
Colac Bay and Orepuki should also be avoided, police said.
The focal point was established this morning to obtain a clear assessment of the situation both in the city and in Riverton and other rural areas, McKay said.
Invercargill firefighters were helping pump out some flooded properties, including in the Bainfield Rd area.
However, “there is a lot of water right now and it is flowing” and it was difficult to pump under the circumstances, he said.
An eyewitness said the ankle-deep flooding had affected part of the city center and some “patches” in other parts of the city.
McKay said this flood was “completely different” from previous floods in February, which did not affect the city itself and were river-related floods.
“It’s just the amount of rain we’ve had,” he said.
The latest floods were due to continued heavy rains, and the city’s stormwater system was struggling to cope.
A key message was to call 111 for emergencies, but, in general, city councils should be contacted about flooded roads, he said.
“Avoid traveling if you don’t have to and sit in front of a nice warm fire,” he advised.
– additional RNZ reports
