Police are urging the public to stay away from the Waimakariri riverbed. (File image) Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Police are urging the public to stay away from the Waimakariri riverbed following heavy rainfall on the West Coast.
Westland issued a state of emergency yesterday in preparation for a deluge of wet weather.
While the region fared better than originally forecast, 500 to 600 millimetres of rain still fell on some Westland ranges.
Police are warning a large volume of water is moving through the Waimakariri River in Canterbury carrying logs and debris.
They advise anyone in the bed of the river, or between the Waimakariri Gorge and sea, to leave.
They said there is no risk to anyone outside of the riverbed.