Rescue plans for trapped tourists
A group of tourists trapped on the Milford highway because of flooding have been airlifted out.
However, more than 380 people yesterday remained trapped at Milford Sound, and torrential rain meant no evacuations were attempted from there yesterday , and they were to remain there overnight. New Zealand Transport Agency journey manager Peter Brown said a busload of 27 people were to be airlifted out from Hollyford Rd.
Earlier in the day, a small number of tourists were airlifted out from Forks Bridge, about 1.5 kilometres from the Homer Tunnel, Brown said.
Real Journeys general manager Paul Norris said the company had 80 overnight cruise passengers in Milford Sound who had remained on board their vessels as they were unable to leave following the flooding and road closure.
Given the damage from torrential rain in the past 24 hours the Milford road, which was the only access in and out, could be closed all week, Brown said.
The road was closed earlier yesterday between Cascade Creek and West Gate (the Chasm).
A state of emergency was declared in Fiordland by Southland Civil Defence about 2pm yesterday.
‘‘There is extensive damage from Lake Gunn to the Homer Tunnel which will delay us opening this road quickly and there is still a section we have not inspected due to bad weather preventing a fly-over,’’ Brown said.
Tourists and staff who were trapped at Milford Sound would be staying there for the next day at least, with dangerous river conditions and significant flooding expected, Emergency Management Southland controller Angus McKay said.
Emergency
Management
Southland was aware there were trampers on the Hollyford and Routeburn Tracks but they were safe in huts and being cared for by the Department of Conservation, he said.
The MetService rain gauge at Milford Sound recorded 350mm in 24 hours till 10am yesterday morning, and a further 300mm to 450mm of rain was possible yesterday and tomorrow to accumulate on the ranges on top of what had already fallen.