9 Nov 2018

Weather: West Coast to Christchurch road washed out

From Morning Report, 7:10 am on 9 November 2018

A woman is missing on the West Coast and the approach road to a bridge at Arthur's Pass has been washed out near Otira after heavy rain deluged the region on Thursday. A search is for the woman will resume this morning alongside the Haupiri River near Gloriavale. Police are not releasing any more details. The washout in Arthur's Pass left travellers stranded after State Highways 6 and 73 were closed. The roads could be out of action for days or even weeks. Lester Rowntree from the Otira Hotel says there's now a dramatic 20-metre gap between the road and the bridge. He was there when it gave way and says it's lucky no one was killed.