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Che baker/Stuff
Containers have tipped over at Bluff’s South Port as gale force winds hit coastal parts of Southland on Sunday.
Power has gone out in numerous areas of Southland as wind gusts of more than 100khm hit coastal parts of the region and Invercargill.
Metservice meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said at 10.30am Invercargill was experiencing 72kph winds with gusts as high as 115kph.
The gusts could damage trees, power lines and unsecured structures and driving may be hazardous for high sided vehicles and motorcycles, he said.
The forecast for coastal Southland, coastal Clutha and Stewart Island up until 5pm on Sunday was for severe gales up to 120kph in exposed places.
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PowerNet chief executive Jason Franklin said several coastal areas were experiencing power outages due to the extreme weather in Southland.
“We have got crews out there restoring power as soon as possible.”
Riverton and Mokoreta are areas affected.
Fire and Emergency crews attended numerous wind-related incidents around Southland this morning, and a house fire at Waikaia at 8am was extinguished.
A shed was at risk of being blown into a neighbour’s house in Invercargill, a roof lifted at Wallacetown and another roof lifted in Bluff, a fire spokesperson said.
Numerous shippings containers have tipped over at South Port in Bluff, but chief executive Nigel Gear said the extent of the damage would not be known until staff entered the container terminal. No-one would enter until the wind died down, he said.
More to come…
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