Thames Coast road severely damaged in wake of storm

Friday, 5 January 2018

Footage of East Coast Road on Friday morning - the main road out of Kaiaua - on the western Firth of the edge of Thames.

State Highway 25, north of Thames, has been ripped apart after massive waves pounded the road during Friday's storm.

People in a low-lying areas, including many holiday makers, had been urged to 'self-evacuate' early in the day as waves crashed into the coast during high tides and heavy rain.

The storm closed the Thames Coast Road, also known as SH 25.

The Thames Coast Road, near Whakatete Bay.

Photos of the aftermath show the road ripped up with large holes in it. Parts have even slipped away. Loose chunks of asphalt also sit on the road.

High tide came at 10.40am and by 2.15pm the danger was definitely abating, Thames Coromandel District Council Civil Defence controller Garry Towler said.

A damaged State Highway 25 after Friday's storm ripped through on Friday morning.

'The tide has receded dramatically. We still don't know how many residents did evacuate from the area. As far as we can tell, everyone who needed to be accounted for has been accounted for.

'The Te Puru Community Hall is still open for those who want to head there. We will be updating everyone on the overall situation as quickly as we can.'

Chris McCartney looks at the flooded Sunset Motel in Thames, which he's owned for 20 years.

The Sunset Motel is closed until further notice.

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The Sunset Motel, north of Thames, was evacuated on Friday after flood waters started to come in around 9.30am.

The Sunset Hotel near Thames has been evactuated.

Chris McCartney, who has owned the motel for 20 years, said the motel was full on Thursday night but they made the decision to evacuate for the patrons' safety.

They were booked for the coming months, but McCartney said they'd had to cancel them all because they weren't sure when they'd be able to re-open.

State Highway 25 after the high tide on Friday morning.

He lives out the back of the motel and said his basement was also flooded. McCartney said he wasn't looking forward to the next high tide.

Along that road in Te Puru, north of Thames, David Van't Wout was watching the waves crash over the fences of some beachfront houses.

State Highway 25, north of Thames, resembles a beach after the storm hit on Friday morning causing major damage to the road.

By about 10.30am they had come into one lady's section, through the garage, and almost into the house, he said.

'She's got waves going down her driveway.'

Drivers push through seawater on State Highway 25, or Thames Coast Road.

Normally there are a couple of metres between the road and the water, he said.

Van't Wout could see about five waterside homes which were starting to be flooded but said he hadn't checked further down the road.

Thames is flooded after heavy rains on Friday morning.

He was holidaying in the area with his wife in a bach just across the road from the water.

A woman nearby, who lived in the area, told him 'she hasn't seen it this bad for 20 years'.

Water and waves on the Thames Coast Rd drew some spectators. The road was closed between Thames and Manaia.

The Van't Wouts had been thinking of heading home given the bad weather forecast but it materialised before they could get out.

'We're going to be stuck here tonight, I think.'

Low-lying parts of Kaiaua, on the western edge of the Firth of Thames, are being evacuated.

The waves were crashing over fences on Thames Coast Rd during high tide on Friday morning, eyewitnesses said.

State Highway 25, totally covered in water.

High tide sent waves into waterside sections in Te Puru, north of Thames.

At the Long Bay Motor Camp near Coromandel Town, waves were seen crashing over the bank and onto the main road.

Several residents at the camp had left overnight but a few were persevering.

One camper who stayed to tough it out, Christine, said she watched the high waters crash over the ridge.

She's staying in a caravan and doesn't think she's at risk.

'Hopefully when the tides go out, the water will go out too, ' she said.

'We're from the Hauraki Plains and we'll be at the camp until the end of January.

'A bit of rain doesn't put us off. There's plenty to do like sit and watch the storm.'

On the western side of the gulf, in Kaiaua, Hauraki District Council is telling people to move to higher ground.

'Local fire force crews are currently assisting residents and civil defence crews are also on their way to help evacuate residents. East Coast Road has been closed in this area.'

Hamilton resident Rangitahi Pompey is at her whānau homestead in Kaiaua, 500 metres from the beach.

Pompey's homestead is warm and dry, however, she has a cousin that lives closer to the beach.

'The [yard] is flooded but the house is on stilts so they're okay.

'They had to bring their chickens inside and they're making a mess in the bathroom.'

The rain isn't heavy but the wind is really strong, Pompey said.