Cyclone aftermath in New Zealand-thousands missing 11 dead
2023.02.19 06:34
Cyclone aftermath in New Zealand-thousands missing 11 dead
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – On Sunday, 11 people died in New Zealand as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, and thousands of people are still missing a week after the storm struck the country’s North Island.
On February 12, the cyclone struck the island’s northernmost region and followed the east coast, causing widespread destruction. Gabrielle has been dubbed “New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster this century” by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
Two more people were reported to have died in Hawke’s Bay, which had been severely affected by the cyclone, according to police on Sunday.
Hipkins told reporters that more deaths could happen, saying that 3,216 people had been found to be okay and that police were trying to find out what happened to more than 3,000 others.
He stated that the disaster had “turned lives upside down” and that recovery was a “steep mountain ahead,” pointing to the disruptions in telecommunications, the lack of fresh water, and the damaged roads that still prevented access to some areas.
He stated that 28,000 homes were still without power, that many crops had been destroyed, and that supply chains had been disrupted, making it difficult to move goods.
The prime minister stated, “The true extent of the devastation and loss become clearer with every passing day.”
According to Hipkins, one of the 12 offers of international assistance that have been received thus far would see a team from Fiji depart for New Zealand in the upcoming days to assist with recovery. Australia’s 27 emergency workers are contributing to the relief effort.
On Sunday, teams from Auckland Council carried out rapid building assessments on damaged homes in the coastal areas of Muriwai and Piha, which are approximately 40 miles (60 km) west of Auckland, the nation’s largest city.
Since the cyclone destroyed farms, bridges, livestock, and homes, emergency officials and the military have flown helicopters to deliver essential supplies to stranded communities.
In response to reports of looting, the police have dispatched an additional 100 officers to Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti, including to remote areas.
Hipkins stated, “The police are working to maintain law and order.”
