1984 Floods devastate Southland

A record one-day total of 84.8 mm of rain caused extensive surface flooding in the streets of Invercargill, Riverton, Ōtautau, Tūātapere and Bluff. A state of emergency was declared in the early hours of 27 January. Matters were made worse in Invercargill when a high tide prevented flood water from draining into the estuary. Invercargill airport had 3-m-deep water in the terminal.

About 1200 homes were left uninhabitable and more than 4000 people had to be evacuated. More than 5000 tonnes of ruined personal possessions were discarded and hundreds of flooded cars were abandoned. No people died, but livestock losses were heavy – more than 12,000 sheep, 330 pigs, 100 cattle and 75 deer were drowned. The total bill for the damage caused by this severe weather system was $55 million.

Image: reporting the disaster (Te Ara)