An Opua resident whose home faces the greatest threat from a huge slip triggered by Thursday's deluge has described the moments he first saw the gaping hole beneath his house.
Residents across Northland, especially in the Bay of Islands, began the massive clean-up yesterday after the two-day deluge dumped more than 400mm of rain in some areas.
Power was restored to Opua yesterday after a 24-hour blackout and all state highways were re-opened except the road between Kawakawa and Opua, which is likely to remain closed for several days.
While no lives were lost firefighters carried out many dramatic rescues, several of which involved plucking from raging floodwaters.
One of the saddest stories to emerge from the floods was news that almost all the animals at a Paihia petting zoo had drowned (see page 3).
Insurance Council boss Chris Ryan said insurance losses alone were likely to top $10 million.
Physiotherapist Doug Bogardus was stranded in Russell when part of the bank beneath his Sir George Back St home in Opua crumbled away.
As he made his way home by ferry the damage quickly became evident.
"I came across in the ferry and looked up and I thought, `Oh my God','' he said. ``I saw a big gaping wound in the side of the hill."
When he arrived home about 5pm, after other residents had been evacuated, he found the land in front of his deck had disappeared.
He said that while engineers were yet to assess the stability of the land, he believed it would be safe as his house was hanging over the edge.
Mr Bogardus said the rain on Wednesday and Thursday was the heaviest he had encountered in his 27 years in Opua.
He had always been aware of the potential for slips, which was why he had not attempted to cut away much of the vegetation on the bank.
Ken Baker, who lives opposite Mr Bogardus in De Haven Rd, watched in horror as the bank gave way. ``I heard cracks like branches breaking and came out and just saw it go.''
He said the bank fell away in sections from right to left.
Shortly before there had been a small slip at the rear of his property. Mr Baker said the slips bought home the reality of living on a clifftop.
"You live on a beautiful hillside. You don't get a much better view - and then you have visions of it all going down a hill," he said.
Many other residents also lost parts of their sections.
Sir George Back St resident Doug Dysart witnessed his landscaped garden fall away in just 30 minutes.
Mr Dysart said the destruction was a harsh reminder of the power of nature.
Home owner on edge after massive slip
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