Heavy rains have led to flooding in some cities in Buller County, located on the northwest coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Residents of the cities of Seddonville, Mokihinui and Westport were evacuated, TASS reported, according to the district emergency management department on Thursday.

Modeling shows that most of Westport will be inundated by evening, and we are conducting a mandatory evacuation of residents, the agency said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. It is also noted that the low-lying cities of Seddonville and Mokihinui were partially flooded. Their inhabitants were evacuated and placed in special centers equipped in municipal buildings.

The Office of Emergency Management has also issued a warning of significant contamination of drinking water due to flooding at water intakes and is asking Buller County residents to boil water before drinking. In a number of areas, utilities and power lines were destroyed, nine highways were blocked due to landslides.

Day-long downpours hit the northwest coast of the country's South Island on February 4. The authorities urged the population of the flood-affected regions to stay away from the flood waters and not to approach the overflowing rivers.