Kaiko¯ura faced with isolation
Kaiko¯ura was faced with being cut off from the rest of the country again on Tuesday evening due to heavy rain and gale-force winds from ex-Cyclone Gita.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) closed State Highway 1 north and south of the town at 8.30am due to the risk of slips and coastal inundation.
Route 70, the inland road via Waiau, was the only way in or out of Kaiko¯ura, but motorists were asked to avoid the road if possible, and it was thought it might close before the end of the day.
Shoppers at the local New World had been stocking up on water and other essentials. Staff were almost continuously topping up supplies, Stuff’s reporter in the town, Pippa Brown, said.
Kaiko¯ura had been hit hard by ex-Cyclone Gita by 4pm, and there was much more to come.
In the nine hours to 9am, a weather station in the town recorded 39mm of rain - the most of any monitored by NIWA.
NIWA principal scientist forecasting Chris Brandolino said the town was among localised areas that could see as much as 200mm of rain through to the end of Wednesday.
‘‘There’s a real flooding and slips risk because of the heavy nature of the rain,’’ he said.
MetService has also warned of coastal inundation being a risk in the area.
A severe weather warning has been issued for Marlborough and the Kaiko¯ura coast, with up to 200mm forecast to accumulate about higher ground from 9am to 10pm Tuesday.
A strong wind warning was also in place, with severe gale southeasterlies gusting 120kmh or more in exposed places through to 3am, Wednesday.
The Kaiko¯ura District Council, along with the alliance charged with rebuilding SH1, had been telling campers to move from coastal spots to higher ground.
Campers outside the SH1 closure had been advised to travel north to Blenheim or south to Cheviot. Those on the town-side of the closure should move to higher ground within the town.
‘‘No welfare centre has yet been established but plans are in place to ensure one can be quickly set up if needed,’’ the council said in a statement.
Urban Search and Rescue teams had arrived in the town to support the Kaiko¯ura Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Chief fire officer Ian Walker described it as a precautionary measure ahead of the inland road potentially closing. ‘‘If we get isolated then we’re stuck again.’’
Streets around the Commercial Hotel site were being closed due to the risk of flying debris. They included: Ramsgate St, Torquay St and Toms Track.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel declared a State of Emergency for Christchurch City at 3pm, which included Banks Peninsula, due to the impacts of ex-tropical Cyclone Gita.
‘‘No welfare centre has yet been established but plans are in place to ensure one can be quickly set up if needed.’’ Kaiko¯ura District Council spokesperson