State of emergency in Southland
A state of emergency has been declared in Southland as extensive flooding causes significant problems across the region.
Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group chairman Neville Cook declared the state of emergency for the region yesterday, including Gore, following Monday’s declaration for Milford Sound, where 195 tourists remained trapped.
Rivers were continuing to rise, many roads were closed and landslips were occurring after three days of torrential rain.
The Gore District Council was advising motorists not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary.
Council deputy chief executive Ian Davidson-Watts said flooding was threatening some homes in
Gore. ‘‘We have staff going door-todoor in the worst affected areas to talk with residents and ensure they are OK.’’
Some properties have been sandbagged, and flood waters had entered several basements and garages.
Several state highways in the area were closed, including SH1 from Mataura to Clinton.
Flooding in the district and in West Otago had forced 17 schools and two early childhood centres to close, affecting more than 1900 children.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand urged farmers in the region to move their stock to higher ground.
Meanwhile, precautionary measures were being taken to protect a hazardous substance being stored in a building in Mataura, which gives off ammonia gas when it becomes wet.
About 10,000 tonnes of ouvea premix, a class six hazardous substance, was being stored in the former paper mill in the township, which is right next to the Mataura River.
Yesterday afternoon, the Mataura River at Gore was flowing at 2.7m above normal.
Mataura resident Dave Mackenzie said he was nervous about the presence of the ouvea premix and what could happen if the river continued to rise.
‘‘I guarantee people are worried [about the river and premix].’’
Gore District Council chief executive Steve Parry said he had asked Inalco, the company that was moving the premix from the building, to take precautions to protect it, in case flood waters continued to rise.