Herald visual journalist George Heard is in Greymouth, and will be trying to get to Westport today

He drove from Christchurch through Reefton last night and saw a lot of damage on the way.

Heard says in Greymouth, there'sflooding around low-lying areas, he river's rising rapidly and is expected to rise more.

He says quite few houses in low-lying areas have water lapping at their doors.

Heard says all the roads to Westport are closed due to slips, damage to the road and surface flooding.