Flood clean-up continues

People trapped in homes above a burst water main in Queenstown were yesterday allowed to drive out of the area but some streets remained closed overnight. The water main on Thompson St burst about 10.40am yesterday with such force that it pushed gravel and debris down the hill, shunting cars across a road and partially flooding a hotel. Phil Smyth said he was stuck in a home he was renovating on Glasgow St, along with several tradespeople, while emergency services kept roads blocked. Smyth was able to drive out nearly six hours later, along with about 10 other vehicles. A neighbour, who had just been discharged from hospital after hip surgery, had been stuck on the other side of the road during the closures, he said. Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday said Man and Thompson streets (between Lake St and Glasgow St) would remain closed overnight