Floods devastate Southland

A record one-day total of up to 84.8 mm of rain caused extensive surface flooding in the streets of Invercargill, Riverton, Ōtautau, Tūātapere and Bluff. A state of emergency was declared in the early hours of 27 January. Matters were made worse in Invercargill when a high tide prevented floodwater from draining into the estuary. Invercargill airport had water 3 m deep inside the terminal.

About 1200 homes were left uninhabitable and more than 4000 people had to be evacuated. More than 5000 tonnes of ruined personal possessions were discarded and hundreds of flooded cars were abandoned. No people died, but livestock losses were heavy – more than 12,000 sheep, 330 pigs, 100 cattle and 75 deer drowned. The total bill for the damage caused by the downpour was $55 million (equivalent to nearly $175 million in 2016).

Image: reporting on the disaster (Te Ara)