A full assessment of the Rangitaiki River bank will be carried out today as crews work to stop water flowing into Edgecumbe.
The council and Civil Defence are conducting operations throughout the eastern Bay of Plenty, with more than 2000 people cut off by floodwaters.
Around 100Â people stayed the night in evacuation centres, and food parcels and medical supplies will be delivered to isolated regions by helicopter.
Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne told Mike Hosking there's a huge cleanup ahead.
"There's extensive damage. The river's still just pouring into those homes. We've got a huge amount of volunteers wanting to help already. In a smaller community, people just rally around and I'm just overwhelmed."
Bonne told Mike Hosking the Rangitaiki dropped 60 centimetres overnight, and a full investigation will be carried out into why the stop bank failed.
He said the breach struck without warning.
"It's like a flash flood. When a wall falls over and you just have a gush of water, you haven't got much time to react."
The Prime Minster will be in the area today, and water boil notices are in place for the wider Whakatane region.
Listen above to Whakatane District Mayor Tony Bonne speak to Mike Hosking followed by Edgecumbe resident Kelly Gibson
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