17 April 16 - Weather Update 02

Heavy rain has caused flooding in the northern Coromandel this afternoon, cutting off access around Manaia, Coromandel Town, Colville and rural communities north of Colville.

Emergency services evacuated one woman from her home and six people were cut off in transit when their four vehicles were stranded by slips at the intersection of Port Charles and Waikawau Bay, but are now staying with locals for the night.

Ohinewai Ford (between Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay) was damaged and is impassible to all vehicles, including 4-wheel drives. Our team will be following up damaged property in the morning.

The roads to Port Charles, Waikawau Bay and Colville are impassable from the slips at the intersection of those roads, with Colville blocked from the north and south due to flooding.

As the tide drops overnight (low tide will be just before 10pm), emergency services believe the situation will settle.

Our Council and emergency services have been working on the situation since this afternoon and will be back on the scene checking the situation again at first light.

The next high tide will be just after four on Monday morning and most river levels have started to drop again.

There are no reports of power cuts in the area as at 6:45pm Sunday evening, though mobile coverage in the northern Coromandel has been patchy this evening.

The forecast for tomorrow is for rain to lessen, and even some sunshine again.

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