18 Apr 2016

'We got absolutely hammered'

8:25 am on 18 April 2016

Slips and rockfalls brought down by heavy rain in the Coromandel peninsula could take up to two days to clear, the council says.

Yesterday, flooding and slips cut off access to some towns in the region and there was more heavy rain overnight.

Many roads have become impassable and most rivers have flooded.

Many roads have become impassable and most rivers have flooded. Photo: SUPPLIED

Thames-Coromandel District Council said one woman was evacuated from her home in Colville yesterday evening and six people were forced to abandon their cars after slips blocked their journey near Port Charles and Waikawau Bay.

The district council says Colville, Port Charles and Waikawau Bay are still isolated until the slips get cleared and warns motorists to be careful on roads around the townships. Roads in and out of Coromandel town are open and State Highway 25 is open.

Residents in some parts of northern Coromandel are still isolated due to slips, and the clean up is under way.

A major slip on the road between Matarangi and Coromandel is expected to take up to two days to clear.

The council's civil defence controller, Garry Towler, is urging motorists to take extreme care on the roads this morning.

"On both sides of the peninsula there is a lot of damage from fords and one way bridges so until we get a full assessment of that we will not be able to give a clear indication of where to travel.

"But we can advise that there have been rockfalls on the Kopu Hikuai hill and we're advising motorists to take a lot of care there.

"We've had a number of accidents - tyres shredded and so forth."

The forecast for today is for rain to ease.

Flooding in Colville, Coromandel.

Flooding in Colville, Coromandel. Photo: SUPPLIED