Civil defence officials in Gisborne are keeping a close watch on rising river levels as heavy rain continues across the East Coast.
A total of 200mm of rain fell in 24 hours in some areas north of Tolaga Bay and more than 140mm closer to Gisborne city.
Gisborne Civil Defence controller Jon Davies says, as a precaution, 23 people were evacuated from their homes at Mangatuna, with another 25 leaving their homes voluntarily.
He says a one-metre wall of water roared across rural land at Hexton after a dam burst at the end of Snowsill Road.
Several roads on the Gisborne Flats are closed including Harper, Cameron, Pilmer and Tucker roads, and Riverside Road in the city.
Mr Davies says if the Uawa River continues to rise overnight, the state highway between Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria may have to be closed.
Electricity back
However, power has been restored to most of the homes on the East Coast hit by cuts.
More than 150mm fell overnight between Ruatoria and Tolaga Bay, causing slips on roads and trees to fall into power lines.
Eastland Network spokesperson Murray Carman says all but a handful of remote houses at the end of a few rural roads have power back on.
He says the main concern is more heavy rain flooding roads, and blocking access to back country properties if they lose power.
Civil Defence says the heavy rain forced some rural schools to close, along with several roads in the Ngatapa Valley south west of Gisborne and the Tauwhareparae road at Tolaga Bay.
Children who attend school in Gisborne but live in rural areas were sent home early by bus.
