Flash flood roars through Taranaki

While some Taranaki residents are still homeless after tornadoes struck the region on Thursday, another household was forced from their beds last night by flash flooding.

Civil Defence spokesman Rusty Ritchie said he understood a farm dam may have burst, releasing a build-up of debris into the Katikara Stream between Oakura and Okato on the coast road to New Plymouth.

The flash flood roared through a house on the property about 1am, severely damaging it.

The sleeping residents were forced to climb out of a window and sit on the hillside waiting for help, Mr Ritchie said.

State Highway 45 was closed by the flood and has yet to reopen.

- NZPA