TAURANGA, New Zealand, May 19 (UPI) -- Flooding brought on by heavy rains has hit the shores of New Zealand's Bay of Plenty.
No deaths or serious injuries had been reported in Tauranga and surrounding towns. But emergency officials say that families have been driven from their homes and mudslides have buried highways and carried cars and trucks away.
A Civil Defense spokesman told TV New Zealand that at least five homes will have to be demolished immediately. Scores of other houses were awaiting inspection.
The Bay of Plenty is a resort area on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
Matata, a small village, was evacuated completely.
One woman told the television station that she and her family left in the dark so they could not see what was hitting them but could hear it.
"We heard all the crashes and bangs and whatever, and the kids were freaking out," she said.
