NZ: More rain for flood-hit Coromandel

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Rain eased in the Coromandel overnight but more downpours are forecast for parts of the peninsula, a day after torrential falls caused major flooding in the region.

A slip on State Highway 25 at Whiritoa, on the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo: NZ Transport Agency

The storm in the upper North Island dumped nearly 300mm of rain in less than 36 hours in parts of the peninsula, making roads impassable and flooding homes and businesses, and caused [http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/326090/flood-hit-roads-may-take-days-to-clear major flooding and power cuts in the Auckland region.

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MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for Coromandel, and for Northland.

Up to 140mm rain is forecast for the Coromandel in the 27 hours to midnight tonight, and more is possible on Friday.

Flooding in Whiritoa, in the Coromandel, yesterday. Photo: Supplied / Anna Kenna

Evacuated residents in Whiritoa, south of Whangamata were back in their homes last night, after being forced earlier to leave. Businesses and homes in Whangamata were flooded, three houses evacuated, and one couple had to flee their home because of a slip.

State Highway 25 between Tairua and Hikuai was expected to be reopened about 7am.

In Northland today, heavy rain is expected, especially in the east, with up to 120mm forecast

Parts of State Highway 25 reopened on Wednesday. Photo: Thames-Coromandel District Council

Power cuts

Meanwhile, the power is back on to all but about 100 homes in the Auckland region, after a night of faults brought on by bad weather.

In the early hours of this morning the electricity supply was cut and then restored to thousands of households in Silverdale, Browns Bay and Riverhead.

Separately, power is out to about 1100 homes in the Manawatu towns of Ashhurst and Sanson. Lines company Powerco is investigating.

Flooding on Wednesday in south Auckland between Hunua and Clevedon. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

-Radio NZ

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