Edgecumbe evacuation 6 April 2017

A car submerged by the flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo / Brad White.

Floodwaters submerge an Edgecumbe house. Photo / Brad White.

Water flows into Edgecumbe through a breach in the Rangitaiki River stopbank shortly before 9am on Thursday. Photo: Whakatane Beacon

Flooding near shops in Edgecumbe. Photo / Brad White.

Agricultural vehicles are used to help evacuate Edgecumbe people to welfare centres established in Whakatane and Kawerau. Photo: Whakatane Beacon

Flooding at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

A flooded Edgecumbe garage. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

RNZ's Zac Fleming reporting from Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

A truck in floodwaters at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters around Whakatane. Photo: Whakatane Beacon

Whakatane river on Thursday morning. Photo: Facebook / Sophie Foster

Flooded farmland near Whakatane. Photo: Supplied

Bruce Fowl’s farm near Whakatane under floodwaters. Photo: Supplied

House on Bruce Fowl's flooded farm near Whakatane. Photo: Supplied

Flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Flooding in Edgecumbe on Friday morning. Photo / Brad White

Flooding at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters around Whakatane. Photo: Whakatane Beacon

Flood waters at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Damage caused by flooding at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

RNZ reporter Zac Fleming on a dry strip of land in the middle of the Edgecumbe flood. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo: Twitter / @transparency_a1

The reflection of a child's swing in floodwaters. Photo / Brad White.

Floodwaters in the evacuated Bay of Plenty town of Edgecumbe are so deep, boats are the only way around. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters flowing at Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters in Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Floodwaters have surged through the Bay of Plenty town of Edgecumbe, with hundreds of people evacuated and dozens of homes flooded. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Boats are the only way to get around in some places in Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Brad White

Evacuated Edgecumbe couple Brian Simmons and Patience Raki. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

Edgecumbe residents evacuate the town on board a flatdeck truck. Photo: Supplied / Tautini Hahipene

A roadblock at the edge of Edgecumbe. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

The river in flood at Te Teko. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

Floodwaters reached fence-height in Edgecumbe. Photo: Supplied / Tautini Hahipene

Floodwaters course through the streets of Edgecumbe. Photo: Supplied / Tautini Hahipene

Edgecumbe residents wade through flood waters to evacuate the town. Photo: Supplied / Tautini Hahipene

Edgecumbe residents wading through flood waters. Photo: Supplied / Tautini Hahipene

The Pekatahi Bridge over the Whakatane River. Photo / Supplied

Antoinette Spencers in Taneatua on Friday cleaning up after mud and sewerage flooded her home. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

The clean up in Taneatua on Friday. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly