22 Jan 2010

Flooding blocks central Hawkes Bay roads

8:58 pm on 22 January 2010

Heavy rain in Hawkes Bay on Friday afternoon blocked several Flaxmere roads and motorists in the area were being advised by the police to avoid unneccesary travel.

Parts of the western end of Flaxmere past Chatham Road were completely cut off by floodwaters.

Hastings District Council civil defence controller Mike McGuire says fire and police were kept busy on Friday evening after the emergency operation centre was activated.

Mr McGuire says the centre was stood down at about 8pm once the waters began receeding.

Flooding also closed the northbound lane of State Highway 50 between Ongaonga and Tikokino. The southbound lane stayed open.

Motorists were advised to use State Highway 38 only in emergencies and to drive with extreme caution.