A slip in Ōmokoroa, Western Bay of Plenty. Photo / Sandra Conchie
Residents in Ōmokoroa, Western Bay of Plenty, have been evacuated after a landslide overnight.
Harbour View Rd resident, who lives across the road from the slip site, told the Bay of Plenty Times she and her family were woken about 4.30am today by emergency services staff.
“Until they knocked on our door, my husband and I weren’t even aware there had been a slip.”
The resident, said an elderly man with a “pre-existing medical condition” and his wife were evacuated from their home and taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
She said debris from the slip was about waist-deep at the elderly couple’s back door and covered most of the road frontage outside their property, and her and her husband’s home.
“Because of the amount of rain overnight, the slip is still trickling down from up above onto the road.”
“Two residents in the house next door to the slip property also self-evacuated for safety reasons, but we decided to hunker down and keep a close watch on the slip.”
Peter White, who lives in Ōmokoroa, visited Harbour View Rd this morning, said “it was so lucky the house did not go”.
White said it was probably saved by flood water deviating around the side of the house rather than through it.
A Western Bay of Plenty District Council building inspector visited the elderly couple’s property this morning and took several photographs.
Another neighbour of the elderly couple said he was woken up at 3am today by a Fire and Emergency member, who asked him if the elderly couple could relocate to his garage for safety reasons until an ambulance arrived.
The resident, who did not want to be named, said he had known his neighbours for at least 15 years since moving into the street and were friends.
“What a mess, this is shocking - it’s something you usually only see on TV. Given the extent of the slip and damage to the house, it’s likely to be some time before they can return to the property.”
He said both his neighbour and his wife were taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance, and he self-evacuated to a friend’s place.
Another Harbour View Rd resident said she lived on the safe side of the road at the top of Harbour View Rd.
She said the weather overnight had been “atrocious” with heavy downpours and “very windy’.
“It was quite frightening. I feel so sorry for the people worst affected by this horrible storm.”
A Western Bay of Plenty District Council spokesperson said they were aware of the slip.
The council said in a Facebook post that they were working through a high number of service requests and asked for people’s patience.
“This is a significant event, and clean-up will take several days. Access to some areas is difficult, so it may take time to reach every request.
“Unless something is urgent or poses an immediate safety risk, we ask for your patience and understanding as crews work through these as safely and quickly as possible.”
In Welcome Bay, two people are missing after a slip took out a house overnight.
Police said they were notified 4.15am that a slip had extensively damaged a house on Welcome Bay Rd.
“One person is reported to have suffered serious injuries and two people remain unaccounted for. A number of houses in the area are being evacuated.”
Meanwhile, SH2 from Katikati to Tauranga was likely to be closed for two days after a large slip.
“Due to a slip, SH2 Whakamarama is closed between Esdaile Rd and Wainui South Rd,” NZTA said in a statement.
“As the ground is still very wet, we anticipate this section of SH2 will be closed for two days.
“A detour is available for light vehicles only: Northbound: Turn left on to Esdaile Rd, then turn right onto Wainui South Rd, then turn left on to SH2. Southbound, follow in reverse.”
Bay of Plenty roads affected by heavy overnight rain
Western Bay of Plenty
SH2 North Tauranga – Te Mania Bridge and Uretara to Tanners Point Rd – open with a 30km/h temporary speed limit.
SH2 Katikati to Tauranga – Open for light vehicles only with detour on Wainui south/Esdaile Rd.
SH2 Katikati to Waihī – Closed between Old Tauranga Rd and Athenree Rd, no available detour until Steele Rd flooding recedes.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
SH2 Matatā straights (west of Matatā) – is now cleared and reopened.
SH2 south of Matatā – closed due to flooding and debris.
SH2 Pukehina –caution advised, likely to flood around 10am high tide. Possibility of a road closure.
SH2 and SH30 Awakeri – roads open.
SH2 Waimana Gorge – road open, small debris on sides of road.
SH35 – closure at Ōpōtiki (residents/emergency services only) until Tairawhiti CDEM advise road may be reopened.
Tauranga
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link – all lanes closed between Sandhurst Interchange and Domain Rd Interchange due to surface flooding.
“Driving through flood water can be extremely dangerous. Just 15cm of water can sweep a person off their feet, and 30cm can carry away most vehicles,” NZTA said in a statement.
“Motorists should be aware of branches and other debris they may not be able to see under the surface of flood waters.
“People are asked to be mindful of contractors who could be out clearing hazards off the road, and drive slowly through work sites.”