Heavy rain cuts off isolated families

Seven people in the East Coast area were isolated last night after heavy rain washed away their only road out.

Gisborne's Civil Defence unit is on flood alert with gales and heavy rain battering the East Coast and up to 300mm of rain forecast for some areas.

Seven residents of inland Ruatoria remained isolated after the Mata River washed away their sole access on Monday night, said Civil Defence controller John Davies. The three families were safe and had power and phones.

Acting Civil Defence manager Paul Stuart said nine rural roads were closed by slips and surface flooding and more could be closed if rain continued.

Although rain had eased in Gisborne city, it was still falling steadily in some regions and at least 12 more hours of rain were expected across the Gisborne district, with a further 50mm in the ranges and 30mm in coastal areas and the city, said Mr Davies.

In Hawkes Bay, a slip caused by heavy rain closed State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa yesterday morning. It reopened around midday.

Heavy sea swells up to seven metres were likely to cause damage at Haumoana and Clifton, the council said.

Up to 250mm of rain could fall in the hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay north of Napier, and up to 120mm in low-lying coastal areas until today, MetService said. South of Napier, up to 150mm could fall in the ranges and up to 80mm in lower-lying areas to midday today.

MetService also warned that severe gales were expected in the Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Taihape, while strong winds were also possible in Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and the Kapiti Coast.

- NZPA