On the 19th of February 1938 a flash flood struck kopuwhara valley, New Zealand.
The kopuwhara stream was already in flood due to the rain. When a sudden cloud burst added more water creating a 5m high wall of water.
This 5m wall of water of struck the small community drowning 20 men and 1 women. Majority of the small huts in the community used as houseing we're destroyed the cookhouse was also partially destroyed building of wairoa gisborne was also halted due to loss of workers.