Heavy rain triggers flooding on West Coast

The slip blocking a road near Westport. Photo / NZH

The West Coast's Fox River burst its banks today, forcing some residents and bach owners to evacuate, some of them carrying off possessions they wanted to save.

"The river has burst its banks and we've done radio broadcasts to advise people not to travel on State Highway 6, because it may close altogether," said a spokeswoman at Greymouth police station, 56km south of Fox River township.

Police officers and fire crews are helping residents move as many belongings as possible.

Heavy rain had been falling all day on the West Coast and the highway was flooded north of Punakaiki, about 11km south of Fox River, and likely to close soon.

Roads are also flooded in the Grey Valley, near Ngahere, the spokeswoman said.

This time last year, a bout of heavy rain on the Coast caused landslips, flooding and road closures in South Westland, while further north the access road to Fox Glacier was closed because of the risk of rockfalls.

- NZPA