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17 Nov 2016

Quake dams Marlborough river, homes evacuated

1:16 pm on 17 November 2016

About 20 people have been evacuated from southern Marlborough because of fears that several slip dams created by Monday's 7.8 earthquake will breach.

Marlborough civil defence controller Richard McNamara with a map of the Ure River area. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Three dams have formed along the Ure River, about an hour south of Blenheim, from slips and debris.

The evacuated houses are clustered about 9km upstream from the river mouth and State Highway 1, which remains closed.

Marlborough civil defence controllor Richard McNamara said geotechnical staff had inspected the dams and water was building up behind them.

"One of the dams is upwards of 35 metres high. If they let go, then there's going to be a wall of water come down the river."

About 20mm of rain forecast for this afternoon would put extra pressure on the dams.

"So last night we rang and physically knocked on doors and asked people to move," Mr McNamara said.

"We're just confirming that this morning by having an aircraft go through."

The dams would break sooner or later, he said.

"The worst-case scenario is that the top one goes and it just cascades as it goes down. At that point it ceases to be just a heavy flow of water - it becomes a debris flow."

A breach could also take out the Ure River bridge on State Highway 1, blocking the way of emergency and other lifeline vehicles that were using the closed highway.

"If the debris flow comes down river ... it could further weaken the bridge, if not take it out, so that's a real issue for us."

Civil defence was also trying to establish whether or not any children living south of the river had travelled north to the settlement of Ward, where the local school had re-opened.

"If kids are at school ... it's likely we'll hold them at Ward until such time as we have cleared the danger."

Marlborough civil defence controller Richard McNamara with a map of the Ure River area. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

A landslide triggered by the November 14 earthquake covers State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura. Photo: AFP

Quake damage to SH1. Photo: AFP

The view from inside one of the blocked road tunnels on SH1 near Kaikoura. Photo: AFP

Quake damage to SH1. Photo: AFP

Emergency services officers inspect the damage caused to Rotherham Road near Waiau town. Photo: AFP

Quake damage to SH1. Photo: AFP

A damaged home in Waiau. Photo: AFP

French tourists Lucie and Louisa moments before leaving Kaikoura on the HMNZS Canterbury on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Max Towle

Part of the Kēkerengū fault in Marlborough. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet

Damage along the Kēkerengū fault in Marlborough. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet

Quake damage in Ward. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Mt Lyford resident Don McIntosh's cars were shunted around by the earthquake. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

A helicopter lowers itself to land to collect luggage of evacuees heading to the HMNZS Canterbury. Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly

A helicopter ferries evacuees luggage onto the HMNZS Canterbury. Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly

RNZAF's Hercules airdrops water to Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry

The Clarence rafters. Photo: Deirdre Lusby

The Clarence rafters were evacuated by helicopter from Muzzle Station. Photo: Deirdre Lusby

The airforce helicopter flies in to Kaikoura to drop off supplies and pick up those still stuck in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry

Boat taking evacuees to HMNZS. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

John Key talks to tourists waiting to leave. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

John Key in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

People waiting for buses to HMNZS. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Sarah, baby Kenoah and Tom Herrmann, from Germany, are not leaving Kaikoura yet. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Boats come back from HMNZS. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

People being transported to HMNZS. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Another load of people are transported to HMNZS. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Road damage in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage to highways near Kaikoura following the quake. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton

Damage to highways near Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton

Simon Morton investigates raised seabeds near Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton

Damage in the Kaikoura area following Monday's earthquake. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton

Damage seen near Ohau. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton

Repair work on quake damage to buildings in central Wellington is well underway. Photo: RNZ / Aaron Smale

Quake damage in central Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Aaron Smale

Marlborough district council building inspector Cherie Newman fills out a yellow restricted access placard for a badly damaged house in Ward, south Marlborough. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Transport Minister Simon Bridges in Kaikoura today. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Prime Minister John Key talks to local Fire Service personnel in his second visit to Kaikoura since the quake overnight Sunday. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

John Key talks to Kaikoura business owners in his second visit to the town since the big quake. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Kaikoura business owners. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Tourists in Kaikoura queue to be taken to the navy ship off the coast of the quake-hit town. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Tourists being taken by bus from Kaikoura to where they can board a navy ship. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Ward resident Kerry Snell and Red Cross volunteer Ian George assess a fallen water tank on Mr Snell's property. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

HMNZS staff waiting on chopper with supplies for Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King

Navy staff waiting on chopper with supplies for Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King

Lieutenant Commander Matt Kaio arrives in Kaikoura from HMNZS Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King

Staff Sergeant Simon Haughey, beach master for the evacuation, and Nicole Booth, lcws, in Kaikoura, cut off after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck near Hanmer Springs. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

HMNZS Canterbury arrives in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King

HMNZS Canterbury arrives in Kaikoura, after the town was cut-off following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Hanmer Springs. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

HMNZS Canterbury arrives in Kaikoura, which has been cut-off since the 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Hanmer Springs. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The police cordon around the quake-damaged buildings. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

The cordon around quake-damaged Wellington buildings. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

The cordon around Pipitea House. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

A cordon in place in central Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

Earthquake damage at the Waiau Hotel. Photo: AFP

Authorities have closed Molesworth St in central Wellington because of potential building facade collapse. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet

Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron

The closed building on Molesworth St, Wellington. Photo: Mei Heron / RNZ

Fire and police officers were expected to be working through the night. Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron

Red Cross helping earthquake-stranded. Photo: Corinne Eambler / Red Cross

Waiau School has become a welfare centre for the earthquake-hit North Canterbury township. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Kaikoura resident Mark Solomon showed us around his home that was badly damaged in the quake. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage at Mark Solomon's property. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Eruera and Mark Solomon. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Mark Solomon's family home of 16 people was badly damaged in the quake. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The kitchen contents emptied onto the floor. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Eruera Solomon, Mark Solomon's 15 year old son does not want to return to the family home. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Power lines down in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The 4Square is closed as are most businesses. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

NZ Defence Force brings supplies. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The facade of Mitre 10 fell in the earthquake.Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Lines of people line up outside of New World in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Takahanga Marae feeding the masses of stranded tourists. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Hundreds of people have waited for flights out of Kaikoura at the rugby club rooms. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Fire crew inspect buidlings along the main street in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The 4Square on the main road in Kaikoura remains closed. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

A Westpac ATM is out of order. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Chinese tourists Xiaolei Chen and Jiangyong are honeymooning in New Zealand. They were evacuated by the Chinese consulate. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

People wait at the rugby club to be airlifted out. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Ward local Di Litchfield at the emergency welfare centre. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Koko Lambert with her daughter Tiara, 7, and son Elijah, 6, at the Ward emergency welfare centre. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

On Ward beach, the coastal rock shelf was lifted by the force of the quake. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

The supermarket in Seddon suffered severe damage including collapsed ceiling panels. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Seddon locals Richard Ronaki and Maki Kumasaka and their children Lyuta, 5, and Morena, 18 months. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Someone made their feelings clear at a rockfall on Marlborough road. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

A closed section of State Highway 1 between Seddon and Kēkerengū. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

NZ Defence Force evacuation. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

People are being evacuated by helicopter by the NZ Defence Force. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Chinese tourists evacuated. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Parents and children are evacuated from Kaikoura by the New Zealand Defence Force. Photo: NZDF

Families with young, old or vulnerable people are taking priority in evacuations. Photo: NZDF

New Zealand Defence personnel help evacuees settle in for their journey away from quake-stricken Kaikoura. Photo: NZDF

Four NZDF NH90 helicopters and commercial helicopters were helping evacuate tourists from the town. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

New World Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Plane lands on state highway 1. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

An image of Clarence River shows dust caused by an aftershock on November 14. Photo: AFP

Bricks have tumbled off this building in Culverden, one of the towns closest to the epicentre of Sunday nights quake. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Lines damaged on back road close to Waiau. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Rockfalls along a closed portion of State Highway 1 just south of Seddon. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Cracks in a closed section of State Highway 1 just south of Seddon. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (R) inspects earthquake damage from a helicopter near Kaikoura. Photo: AFP

Former All Black captain Richie McCaw who has been flying personnel after the earthquake with Prime Minister John Key. Photo: RNZ

Elms Homestead. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

As the sun sets on day one of the quake, the town of Kaikoura will grow darker with many properties and businesses without power. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

A Southland man flew to the area to check on friends and family, landing on State Highway 1. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Kaikoura township. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

After feeding 700 people the clean up begins at Takahanga marae, local business owner Dexarelli helps out. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

300 kg of crayfish waiting in the fridge at Takahanga marae for the hundreds of locals and stranded tourists tomorrow. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage outside the Kaikoura fire station. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Tourists attempt to make contact with their family after the quake. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

A family reunites after the shakes in Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

State Highway One near Oaro on the South Island's east coast. Photo: AFP

A crashed vehicle on SH1 in the wake of the devastating quake. Photo: AFP

A train is trapped by landslides on the Kaikoura coast line. Photo: AFP

Two significant fissures intersect a roadway near Rotherham. Photo: NZDF

Damage in the Mount Lyford area. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Railway cuts through State Highway 1 on the coastal road to Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage to the road between Kaikoura and Mt Lyford. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

A digger begins work on the road between Kaikoura and Mt Lyford. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage to the road between Kaikoura and Mt Lyford. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Lights seen above Wellington during yesterday's earthquake. Photo: Instagram: sana_aljoj

Road damage in the Waiau Valley/Mt Lyford area. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Aerial surveys by Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft showed massive rockfalls in several areas in the upper South Island. Photo: The New Zealand Defence Force

Two buildings on Picton's High Street damaged in Earthquake. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

Acting Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee, Prime Minister John Key and entourage take off on blustery Wellington day heading to Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron

Earthquake damage and slips around Kaikoura after the Hanmer Springs earthquake on November 14. Photo: Garden City Helicopters

Railway damage 20km south of Cheviot, as seen from the air. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Road damage 10km south of Clarence. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Earthquake damage and slips around Kaikoura after the Hanmer Springs earthquake on November 14. Photo: Garden City Helicopters

Earthquake damage and slips around Kaikoura after the Hanmer Springs earthquake on November 14. This is an inland slip. Photo: Garden City Helicopters

A house at Bluff Station between Blenheim & Kaikoura, which is right on the Kekerengu fault line, was demolished by the shakes. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet

Damage at Wellington Port after the 7.5 quake hit near Hamner Springs. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington

Pictures of damage to home of Cheviot GP Anthea Prentice, at Claverley, near Cheviot. Photo: Supplied

Rail and bridge damage 20km south of Clarence. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Damage 20km south of Clarence, seen from the air. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Pictures of damage to the section of Cheviot GP Anthea Prentice, at Claverley, near Cheviot. Photo: Supplied

Road damage near Kaikoura. Photo: Twitter / @lou_gordongreen

Ohau Point on State Highway 1 has been completely blocked after this morning's shakes. Photo: Supplied / NZTA

A fresh landslide on the north east coast of South Island. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet

Damage at Wellington Port after the 7.5 quake hit near Hamner Springs. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington

Broken windows in the Farmers Institute building on Featherston St, Wellington, after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake centred near Hanmer Springs. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington

MP Stuart Smith in Kaikoura. Photo: supplied

Earthquake damage around the Conway River area. Photo: Andrew Macfarlane

The Massey University campus in Wellington was closed. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen

Four Square Culverden owner Andrew Whittleston is thankful he's got a generator to keep his frozen goods on ice with power yet to be restored to the town. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Lines company working to restore power in North Canterbury Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Damage on the state highway just before Hanmer Springs Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Hundreds of people moved to higher ground on Mount Victoria, Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Broken glass in Wakefield Street in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Broken glass on Cable St from an apartment building Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Cars in the Wellington suburb of Mt Victoria after the earthquake. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Displaced Wellington residents Kenny Yeh, Daniel Sik and Alex Laing. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Evacuees at Amberley Pavillion, in North Canterbury, where a community welfare centre was set up in after the midnight earthquake. Photo: Conan Young /RNZ

Tea is served for evacuees at the Amberley Pavillion afte a 7.5 magnitude quake hit near Hanmer Springs. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

The road towards Seddon has been closed. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

The quake threw groceries off shelves and broke wine bottles at the Culverden 4 Square store. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

The quake damage could be clearly seen on Leader Rd in Kaikoura. Photo: Twitter / @Nicola_RaynerNZ

The quake threw groceries off shelves and broke wine bottles at the Culverden. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

Richard Bicknell tweeted this picture of his kitchen after the severe earthquake. Photo: Twitter / Richard Bicknell

Earthquake damage in central Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Susie Ferguson

Pane of glass smashed from a window of a inner city building on The Terrace, Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

An emergency sign at Massey University's Wellington campus. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen

Victoria Greenwood-Loose and Lexie Loose at the Tua Marina Memorial Hall in Marlborough, which was set up as a Civil Defence welfare centre. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal