Flash flood

The small Taranaki township of Okato was hit by a flash flood at 1am this morning. The town's two rivers, the Stony River (Hangatahoa is the Maori name) and the Kaihihi River, burst their banks sending a torrent of water and debris through farmland and commercial premises.

The local garage, pictured above, was silted up and required water pumps to remove the flood water from the lower lying areas of the premises. Outside, the road was badly torn up and mangled trees lay scattered up and down its length.