Major flooding in Kawerau

A screenshot taken from a video shot by local Gaylene Sparks of the flooding in Kawerau and posted to Facebook this morning. Image: Gaylene Sparks/Facebook

Several street in Kawerau are underwater after heavy rains overnight caused extensive flooding in the Eastern Bay of Plenty township.

Fire Northern Communications shift manager Carren Larking​ says in the five hours since 6am, they had received 12 call outs to properties affected by the flooding, mostly in the River Road area.

'We've had two crews working non-stop since dawn this morning, going from one call-out to the next, to the next. The service received a couple of calls last night, but a few of the houses our crews couldn't get their appliances too.

'There was no danger to life or people in those instances and our crews have since attended those properties this morning, so the water must be receding a little.”

Carren says Kawerau District Council workers are also assisting fire crews to manage the flooding and have been working since 3am clearing drains.

Speaking to Fairfax Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell says there was a lot of surface flooding in the centre of town, and estimated the main street had up to four centimetres of water in it.

Have you been affected by the flooding?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE (786 5483) or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz

- Additional reporting stuff.co.nz

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1 comment

here we go again

Posted on 18-02-2017 11:50 | By old trucker

Golly Gosh, (just wonder )were the drains BLOCKED, a lot in TGA are,the sweeper truck cannot reach into sharp corners,Cambridge road are all blocked (for ages,) LAZY staff on contract to Council, they dont care a rats wrinkle about work, busy looking at their phone,also all that money being SPENT on Ngati road, there is NO people to use it ,for GOODNESS SAKE, TCC a footpath around island,whats the matter with you, it looks as though a crossing is gooing to be put in at Vale street entrance,how BLINKIN STUPID,(just wonder if someone in TCC has a finger in the pie in concrete contracts Immmm,my thoughts only,Thankyou Sunlive for the News you bring us, 10-4 out.


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