"Two of those personnel will base themselves as liaison officers at the Buller Emergency Operation Centre," the army said in a statement late on Friday night. Photo / George HeardHe told RNZ the Buller River was running at a 50-year flood level, and it is tracking towards a once in 100 year event. The West Coast Regional Council has recorded up to 267mm of rainfall in the Buller district in the past 24 hours. The road to and from the West Coast is closed at Arthur's Pass. Overnight weather stations in the region measured more than 140mm rainfall, with MetService warning there was "plenty more to come".

Source: New Zealand Herald July 16, 2021 06:31 UTC