Hundreds of residents are being evacuated in the eastern Bay of Plenty town of Edgecumbe as flood waters rise.
Flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo: Twitter / @transparency_a1
Residents are being told to evacuate to Kawerau immediately, contact friends and family in the area and check on their neighbours.
Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne told Morning Report there was a wall of water going through Edgecumbe "it is a one in 500 year event."
