Thousands at risk of flooding in New Zealand’s Canterbury region

People along Ashburton River preparing to evacuate as MetService issues red warning for heavy rain

Thousands of homes were at risk of flooding in New Zealand's Canterbury region on Sunday and people along the Ashburton River were preparing for a mass evacuation, authorities said, as continued heavy rain raised water levels.

Three thousand homes were at risk of flooding, the acting minister for emergency management Kris Faafoi said on Sunday, after New Zealand's MetService issued a red warning for heavy rain for Canterbury and multiple warnings elsewhere.