Workers focus on opening flooded Gisborne roads

Civil Defence workers in Gisborne are focussing their attention on opening some of the roads out of the city.

All roads into and out of Gisborne are blocked by floodwaters or slips, after a night of exceptional rain in the district. MetService says up to 300 millimetres fell in parts of the region, peaking at 36 millimetres an hour.

Civil Defence spokesman Richard Steele says high on the list is clearing State Highway 2 between Napier and Gisborne, to prevent a petrol crisis. He says Gisborne only has enough fuel for four days, but he is confident the road can be reopened by tomorrow.

Road blockages have also closed SH2 between Matawai and Te Karaka while extreme caution is urged between Hastings and Waipawa.

State Highway 35 between Tokomaru Bay and Gisborne is also closed with surface flooding requiring the need for extreme caution between Te Kaha and Gisborne. A slip has closed SH 5 between Taupo and Eskdale.

- NEWSTALK ZB