Chaos in New Zealand due to Cyclone Gabriel
2023.02.14 02:11
Chaos in New Zealand due to Cyclone Gabriel
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides, and huge ocean swells, necessitating evacuations and stranding people on roof tops, prompting New Zealand to declare a national state of emergency for the third time in its history on Tuesday.
There were approximately 225,000 people left without power.
After the declaration, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters, “It has been a big night for New Zealanders across the country, but especially in the upper North Island… a lot of families displaced, a lot of homes without power, and extensive damage done across the country.”
Gabrielle was approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Auckland at 3 p.m. (0200 GMT), close to the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is anticipated that she will continue moving southeast, roughly parallel to the coast. For most of the east coast of the North Island and the upper South Island, weather warnings are still in effect.
Minister of emergency management Kieran McAnulty stated that even though New Zealand had weathered the storm’s worst, more rain and strong winds were anticipated.
He added that extensive flooding, landslides, and damage to roads and infrastructure were afflicting the nation.
Substations and power networks have been damaged, according to transmission companies all over the country. According to Megan Woods, energy minister, approximately 225,000 people were without electricity.
As rivers continue to rise and huge waves inundate beachfront properties, authorities have evacuated beach communities and are urging even more people to flee their homes.
Some towns are cut off, mobile phone service is down, and roads are closed. Fearing food and water shortages, residents in hard-hit areas are being asked to conserve both. All domestic flights into and out of Auckland have been canceled once more by Air New Zealand.
People were being rescued by boat and helicopter crews in Hawke’s Bay, southeast of Auckland, who were trapped by floodwater that was rapidly rising.
According to Hipkins, it was too early to estimate the number of displaced or injured individuals. There have been no confirmed deaths.
After a house in Hawke’s Bay slid down a hill, the media reported that one person was missing. On the other hand, the fire and emergency services reported that a volunteer firefighter was still in a house that had been swept downhill by a landslide.
People sitting on top of buildings that were surrounded by flood water, houses that were swept to the bottom of hills by landslides, and roads that were submerged in water were featured in photographs and videos that were published by the local media.
A person was rescued from a yacht that activated its emergency beacon this morning off the east coast by a New Zealand warship.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and an earthquake in 2011, New Zealand declared national emergencies.
