Blocked culverts divert water from sudden downpour into homes

Simna Nair and Sajeev Puthussery spent the night with friends after water flowed through their rented house in Don Buck Drive, soaking their bed, the sofa and the carpets. Photo / Natalie Slade

Sajeev Puthussery first heard a bubbling sound and then saw water trickling through the door - and within minutes was standing in his house knee deep in water.

The 42-year-old's rented Don Buck Rd home, in West Auckland, bore the brunt of a sudden downpour that caused flooding when the Huruhuru Creek burst its banks and blocked culverts sending water into nearby properties. "It came through the road, across the driveway and into the house.

"It was knee deep through our house within five minutes."

Mr Puthussery was watching television and his wife Simna Nair was asleep when the flood began.

"It was a bubbling to the side there and I thought 'what's that' and then noticed water flowing out from the door. Then it was flowing in just like a stream or river.

"We didn't know what to do."

They moved everything they could onto the dining room table but they weren't fast enough to stop suitcases of clothes disappearing beneath the water.

"They were all soaked. Everything - the bed, sofa, carpet, fully soaked."

He was able to save a suitcase of documents, including passports. They hadn't lived there long and didn't have contents insurance.

He didn't know what condition the freezer and washing machine were in and planned to return with his landlord today to inspect the damage. The couple and their 6-year-old son Navneeth spent last night at a friend's house.

"When we came out of the house it was water everywhere.

"We went up to the road and it was like a river."

Mr Puthussery's neighbour told him she'd lived in the area 20 years and never seen anything like it.

As well as the West Auckland flooding, fire crews were called to homes and garages in Stanmore Bay and Mt Roskill, Northern Communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said.

He said nearby Woodside Rd was also affected with some residents moving out and others being assisted.

The heavy rain was expected to have cleared by this morning with a return to sunny weather but with cooler winds.