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Flooding in Gore posted yesterday. Photo: Gore District Council.
Farmers in Southland are sharing the effects of three days of heavy rain.
The extreme weather has placed the Mataura River at risk of breaching its banks.
Residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura have been told to evacuate by Southland Civil Defence.
Further information about evacuations available here.
Tweets by Southland farmers are offering insight into the extent of the weather and damage to farms.
Contractor Jeremy Hughes @travelingfixer shared shocking images of a ute and tractor trapped in flooding.
Got sent these by a mate, his boss was moving a tractor between farms and had to do a wee rescue mission along the way. pic.twitter.com/gl7zU44qjW
— Jeremy Hughes - DTC ??? (@travelingfixer) February 4, 2020
Farm Consultant Deane Carson @deane_ag shared a thread of photos revealing flooding on farms (click through to see more photos).
Thread of Southland flood pictures pic.twitter.com/KQQ4rP0lOh
— Deane Carson (@deane_ag) February 4, 2020
Videos shared of the flooding helped to show how widespread it is.
Sharemilker Michael Prankerd @sigalasvacas shared a video of extensive flooding on a farm.
Very very very #moist pic.twitter.com/w02SM6A4cZ
— Michael Prankerd (@sigalasvacas) February 4, 2020
The weather is also being felt in surrounding regions. West Otago farmer Bruce @fairleigh_ag shared a video of a new pond that had formed on his farm.
Today's update....very #Moist pic.twitter.com/6l4dzb72K7
— ?? Bruce ?? (@fairleigh_ag) February 3, 2020
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
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