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Photo: Screengrab \/ MetService\n<\/p>\n
A state of local emergency has been declared for the small town of \u014chura in the Ruapehu District due to heavy rain.<\/p>\n
The National Emergency Management Agency is warning that life-threatening flooding is possible.<\/p>\n
It is urging residents to prepare to evacuate from low-lying areas near Mangaroa Stream and other catchments.<\/p>\n
A Civil Defence Centre is available at the Memorial Hall on Ngarimu Street.<\/p>\n
Manawat\u016b-Whanganui Emergency Management Group said it was responding to flooding across the region, caused by the heavy rain.<\/p>\n
“We’ll know more once daylight allows us to assess the impacts, but roads will be closed.”<\/p>\n
An emergency mobile alert was sent to the people of \u014chura early this morning, notifying them of the need to prepare to self-evacuate, it said.<\/p>\n
“Six residents of \u014chura self-evacuated, with the \u014chura Memorial Hall opened as a Civil Defence Centre.”<\/p>\n
The \u014chura River had hit very high levels, with stormwater and drainage systems reaching capacity, it said.<\/p>\n
“River level modelling from Horizons Regional Council indicates flood protection assets will need to be deployed in Whanganui township.<\/p>\n
“We’re asking everyone in the region to take care today, as more rain is forecast.”<\/p>\n
It was reminding people not to not wait for official warnings if they saw rising water.<\/p>\n
“Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.<\/p>\n
“Remember, never try to walk, swim, drive through or play in floodwater.”<\/p>\n
Warnings, watches in place<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, emergency operations staff in Lower Hutt were monitoring river levels throughout the night after heavy rain battered the city on Saturday<\/p>\n
An orange heavy rain warnings remains in place for Bay of Plenty east of the Whakat\u0101ne River from 6am to 4pm Sunday.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain watches are in place from 6am to 8pm Sunday for Auckland south and west of Warkworth and for Gisborne north of Tokomaru Bay.<\/p>\n
A rain watch is also in place for South of the Rakaia River, excluding Mackenzie Basin, from 7am to 1pm Sunday.<\/p>\n
State Highway 58 in the Wellington Region, between P\u0101uatahanui and State Highway 2 interchange, was still closed.<\/p>\n
While in the Manawat\u016b-Whanganui Region – State Highway 3 from Mokau to Piopio, and State Highway 43 between Whangam\u014dmona and Taumarunui, was also closed.<\/p>\n