Emergency operation in full swing on West Coast as rain pours down

The rain is pouring down on the West Coast and at the top of the South - with real fears about what's to come. A state of emegency is in place on the West Coast with 'red' severe weather warnings for Buller and Westland. Further north, emergency operations are gearing up at the top of the South Island, with orange level warnings in place in the Tasman, Marlborough and Nelson regions. In Golden Bay, rivers reached alarm levels early this morning - an emergency operation centre has opened as the region prepares for expected flooding and road closures. The heaviest rain so far has been at Franz Josef where a close watch is being kept on the Waiho River. Andy Thompson from West Coast Civil Defence tells Kathryn rivers are already swollen and fears of serious flooding are mounting.