New Zealand has declared a national emergency for the third time in its history after a cyclone hit it, causing floods and landslides and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.
Up to 2,500 people had to be evacuated as Cyclone Gabriel swept through several regions of the country at a height of 16 feet, while hundreds of thousands were left without power.
The cyclone, described by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins as the “severe weather event of the century,” hit just two weeks after a record-breaking storm that killed four people in Auckland.
Local media showed people stranded on rooftops fleeing the flood. Some of them were reportedly rescued after being on the roof for 10 hours. In the video above, two men can be seen carrying a lamb on their shoulders, apparently trying to save it from drowning.
“Of course, the reports we have received say this is the most extreme weather event we have seen in a long time,” said Mr Hipkins in Wellington. “Over time, we will know how things are with Cyclone Bola,” he said, referring to the costly 1988 cyclone.
Communities have been put on lockdown due to the flooding as a weather station in the Hawke’s Bay and Napier area recorded three times more overnight rainfall than usual during February, MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.
Schools across most of the North Island remain closed and the prime minister said school leaders must decide when face-to-face classes will resume.
The canceled flights have left thousands stranded, and while Air New Zealand has resumed some flights to and from Auckland, many routes have remained interrupted.
Mr Hipkins also urged people not to panic and buy as dozens of supermarkets closed.
This was reported to Reuters by 50-year-old architect Lars von Minden, who lives in Murivai, a coastal town west of Auckland. he “rarely saw anything like it”.
New Zealand, where Jacinda Ardern recently resigned in a shocking announcement, has only declared a state of emergency twice: during the 2011 earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic.
One firefighter was missing and another was rescued with serious injuries after he fell into a landslide near the country’s largest city, Auckland, at night, authorities said.
The state of emergency in the country includes six regions where a local emergency has already been declared. These are Auckland, Northland, Tyravity, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawkes Bay.
Mr Hipkins said Rishi called Sunak to offer help, as did the Australian government.
Where is the cyclone going?
By 18:00 (0500 GMT), Gabrielle moved southeast of Auckland, near the east coast of the country’s North Island, and was expected to continue southeast, roughly parallel to the coast. Weather warnings remained in effect for much of the North Island’s east coast and the upper South Island.
The cyclone is expected to move away from the North Island by Wednesday evening and head northeast of the Chatham Islands, the weather service said.
The storm is expected to pass east of the Chatham Islands early Thursday and then continue to the southeast, weakening along the way.
Emergency Management Minister Kieran Makanulty said that while New Zealand is now experiencing the worst storm, more rain and strong winds should be expected.
He added that the country has suffered extensive flooding, landslides and damage to roads and infrastructure.
“Trade Now”
Climate Secretary James Shaw called the cyclone the result of global warming. tweeted:
“For the third time in our history, a state of emergency has been declared in the country. Follow the official advice and take care of yourself. This is climate change. The impact will worsen if we do not act NOW to quickly reduce emissions and adapt communities to the impacts that are already taking place.
Additional agency reporting
Source: I News
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