UpdateNew Zealand has declared a national emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle. This is causing widespread evacuations, power outages and damage to property in large parts of the North Island of the archipelago. Some cities are completely cut off from the outside world due to heavy flooding and landslides.
New Zealand’s emergency aid minister, Kieran McAnulty, said it was only the third time in the country’s history that a state of emergency had been declared. “These are unprecedented weather events that are having major impacts across much of the North Island,” said McAnulty. “This is a major disaster that poses a real threat to the lives of New Zealanders.”
The special measure applies in the regions of Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawkes Bay.
A volunteer firefighter is seriously feared for the life of missing after a house collapsed when it was hit by a landslide near Auckland on Monday night.
The city, which is home to about 1.6 million people, experienced the highest amount of precipitation ever: 265 mm fell in one day. Residents of 50 homes in that city were evacuated because they lived next to a tower that was in danger of falling. At least 38,000 homes had no power supply on Tuesday morning (local time).
The state of emergency gives the central government more powers to manage the emergency. It was previously announced for the corona pandemic in 2020 and for the earthquakes in Christchurch in 2011. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced an aid package of 6.8 million euros on Monday.
LOOK. Heavy rainfall causes flooding in New Zealand
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