Heavy rain causes flooding in New Zealand

Several hundred people in New Zealand were evacuated from their homes Monday while others recounted dramatic helicopter rescues as heavy rain caused widespread flooding in the Canterbury region.

Authorities declared a state of emergency after some places received as much as 400 millimetres (16 inches) of rain over three days.

One Canterbury man said the floods washed several goldfish out of his pond as he scooped them up in a bucket.

Another man in Selwyn said he woke up to half of his farm underwater.

The military said they helped evacuate more than 50 people, including several overnight.

(Image Credit: AP)