Whakatane Threatened By Bursting Dam

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 64, 18 March 1944, Page 4

Whakatane Threatened By Bursting Dam

Business Area Evacuated, But Danger Averted (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 17. The impounding of a large volume of flood water behind a blocked culvert at Hillcrest to-day led to the gravest fears for the safety of Whakatane and acting on the advice of the Borough Engineer, the Mayor (Mr. B. S. Barry) by special announcement ordered all persons away from business premises in the Strand as the breaking of the 30ft. culvert was deemed to be a'jout to take place at any moment. In obodience to this order the town virtually closed up, 90 per cent, of the employees going home after making provision for the second flood of the day by blocking and sand-bagging their shop and office entrances. A large gang of borough workmen was engaged in seeking to divert the gathering pressure of the impounded water by digging a side channel which was completed shortly after 1 p.m. The resuit of this measure, although not apparent for some time, was that gradually the water level suosided, and the immediate danger of a wall of water Deing plunged into the heart of the town from a height of 80 feet was averted. The position, however, remained extremeiy grave until two hours later when the threat was considered definitely removed. The Whakatane business area remained closed for the rest of the day. The work of clearing up tho debris is proceeding and all available trucks In the town are combining with dozens of businessmen and labourers temporarily engaged for tho purpose of removing the great mass of silt, boulders and metal which is piled on the Strand and Commerce Street. All the lowlying areas arc still covered, but the main flood has subsided, leaving the residential section of Whakatane a dismal scene of siltcovered lawns and gardens. Flooding has also occurred again in the Rangitaiki Plains where service cars and tne trafiic generally have been forced to make detours. The Te Teko Road is once more impassable and the alternative route is via McCraken’s Road. The main road between Whakatane and Taneatua is also cut off owing to flooding and a major slip in the Waimata Gorge. The rain in Whakatane last night measured 6.37 inches. A report from the postmaster at Whakatane states: “Following heavy rain all night a cloudburst occurred between 7.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. All the small creeks from the back of the town arc heavily flooded and burst their banks. When they reached the town they flooded the whole of the business area to a depth of two or three feet. In some shops there was water to a depth of one foot. The only telegraph lino damaged is that from Whakatane to Opotiki. “At the present time extreme danger exists as the result of a heavy accumulation of water which has formed a lake about one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide on top of a hillcrest at the back of tho town. The business portion of the town was evacuated in the event of a breakthrough. All cars have been removed from the business area and all shops have been closed. “In the event of the water breaking through as is feared it would come straight over the hill into the centre of the business area and considerably add to the already extensive damage done. There were about two or three feet of water in the post office yard which has now receded, leaving an accumulation of flood debris. There is no water in the post office building or any structural damage.”