GISBORNE CDEM GROUP EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE

MEDIA RELEASE

1.15pm Monday, 16 March 2015 Release No: 7

Problems continue in north of Gisborne

Heavy north-easterly swells coupled with strong winds continue to cause problems for emergency services in the northern part of the Gisborne district.

More than 40 people have been evacuated as a precaution against inundation by the sea, flooding and slips.

Gisborne Civil Defence Emergency Management controller Peter Higgs says nine metre waves are still expected in the region north of Tolaga Bay because of the high winds and swells. These are expected to reduce to about three to four metres by midday Tuesday.

At Tokomaru Bay, seawater has reached up the seawall along the road to Waima and with a 3.15pm high tide, this could overlap the road.

People living in low-lying areas at Waima may be evacuated

“We have reports coming in of horizontal rain and a fierce sea rising rapidly.

Police area commander Sam Aberahama says reports from Anaura Bay are that waves are five to six metres and “never seen anything like it before”.

Power has been restored at Te Araroa but Hicks Bay residents remain without power.

East Cape Road is passable up to the last 3km. Contractors were forced to stop repairs due to the dangerous, high wind conditions.

“State Highway 35 remains open at Mangatuna north of Tolaga, where the Hikuwai River is at eight metres. Earlier reports of the river level reaching more than 14 metres have been found to be incorrect due to faulty equipment. All other rivers are well below alert levels.”

At Hicks Bay, the Fire Service says power lines are down and a roof has lifted. Trees are also down at Ruatoria.

The highest rainfall to date is 200mm at Mata, north-west of Tolaga Bay.

Gisborne city’s three bridges are open and unlikely to be closed.

The worst of ex-tropical cyclone Pam is expected to pass over the area by 4pm today.

Meanwhile, several campers still remaining in freedom camping areas north of Gisborne this morning have moved out after strong encouragement from Gisborne Police.

© Scoop Media