Streets underwater as New Zealand city cops biggest drenching in 100 years

The city of Dunedin in New Zealand has declared a state of emergency after experiencing a once-in-a-century downpour. Mayor Jules Radich stated on Friday morning, "I didn't expect the scale of this event to be so large."

According to data from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the Musselburgh station in Dunedin recorded its second-highest rainfall ever, with nearly 131mm of rain falling in the 24 hours leading up to 9am local time today (6am Australian Eastern Standard Time). The last time Musselburgh experienced such heavy rainfall was in April 1923.

Approximately 22 roads around Dunedin have been closed due to flooding. Residents in low-lying areas, including South Dunedin, were hit overnight by "significant surface flooding." From 4pm Wednesday to 8am Friday, Dunedin recorded a staggering 143mm of rain, more than double the normal October rainfall of 60mm.

Residents have been urged to stay off the roads due to the potential for slips and surface flooding. An additional 40 to 60mm of rain is expected in Dunedin by 11pm Friday. New Zealand's weather authority has warned that the heavy rainfall could cause dangerous river conditions, severe flooding, and landslides, posing a threat to life. "This will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities," the weather authority stated.

A major slip has cut off Burkes Drive in the suburb of Maia, and around 30 roads around Dunedin have been closed due to flooding and slips. Evacuation centers have been set up at Forsyth Barr Stadium and St Clair Golf Club. Radich stated that the city's pumping and pipe systems have been coping well with the flooding. He also expressed how proud he was of the resilient Dunedin residents. "I'm incredibly proud to see it," he said.

Controller Chris Henderson said that land movement had occurred on both sides of Otago Harbour, affecting water supply and blocking roads. He urged people to conserve water. "We have contractors and staff on the ground urgently fixing bursts in the water supply and clearing slips." Emergency Management Minister Mitchell said the response from authorities and emergency services was "absolutely outstanding."

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said firefighters had attended 34 callouts overnight. Houses near a slip in the suburb of St Leonards were evacuated. People were evacuated but there were no injuries. An Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR) has been deployed from Christchurch to provide support, including a specialist drone team and a geotechnical engineer.

Dunedin City Council said about 70 people had been evacuated, and flooding had occurred throughout the city, including along Peninsula Rd and around the Hooper and Papanui inlets, Green Island, Caversham, and Musselburgh. The council repeatedly encouraged residents in South Dunedin, particularly in and around Caversham, to evacuate to higher ground if they noticed rising floodwaters or felt unsafe in their homes.

A rare red heavy rain warning issued for North Otago, Dunedin, and coastal Clutha will remain in place until 11pm Friday. Resident Chris Reynolds said his garage on Surrey St was flooded with about 30cm of water around midnight on Thursday. "I expect if [the rain] continues some houses will also be flooded, as household pumps can't keep the water out of properties," he said.

Several roads in South Dunedin have been closed, including Seaview Rd between Forbury Rd and Prince Albert Rd, Loyalty St, Josephine St, Nelson St, Edwin St between Alfred St and Hillside Rd, and Surrey St between Ruskin Tce and Hillside Rd. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has closed State Highway 90 north of Gore, between Waikaka and Tapanui, after the Pomahaka River burst its banks late on Thursday.

Southland remains under a heavy rain watch until 4pm on Friday. A slip on the peninsula is believed to have caused a water main to burst, leaving homes from Owen Rd to Macandrew Bay and Portobello without water. A long section of Portobello Rd along the waterfront has been closed from Doon St to Castlewood Rd. On the other side of the bay, a slip has covered part of the Aramoana Rd between Karitane and Deborah Bay, and a blocked culvert has caused significant flooding on the same road in Karitane.

The Otago Regional Council recorded more than 146mm of rainfall at its monitoring station at Sullivans Dam in the 48 hours leading up to 9am Friday, almost exceeding the MetService's expected total rainfall, and with more than 12 hours still remaining on the red rain warning. The Otago Emergency Management Agency said people should be particularly vigilant about rising waters in the Silver Stream in Gordon Rd on the edge of Mosgiel, the Pomahaka and coastal communities around Balclutha, and Tokomairiro.

The Leith River reached its first flood warning level at 10pm on Thursday, but water levels have since receded. A second peak is expected in the Silver Stream, Leith River and Lindsay Creek on Friday afternoon. This article originally appeared on Stuff and is republished here with permission.