‘We have lost lives’: NZ’s extreme weather ordeal worsens as more rain pours down
NZ police have pleaded with drivers to stay off the roads, but there are always some who won't listen. Photo: AAP Photo: AAP
Heavy rainfall has again hit New Zealand’s North Island, causing landslides, flash floods and knocking out roads.
Battered by rain since Friday, Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city of 1.6 million people, remained under a state of emergency on Sunday.
At least four people are known to been killed by the extreme weather event, which shattered all previous downfall records.
The nation’s weather forecaster, MetService, warned of more severe weather on Monday for the North Island. Intense rainfall could also cause surface and flash flooding, it said.
The focus of the emergency has moved south, with Waitomo District – about 220 kilometres from Auckland – declaring a state of emergency late on Saturday.
‘We have lost lives’
Police confirmed a man missing after being swept away on Friday in Onewhero, a rural village about 70 kilometres south of Auckland, had died.
“The most horrific part of it is that we have lost lives,” Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni said in Auckland.
On Sunday, police said they were assisting with traffic management and road closures after heavy rainfall “caused numerous slips, flooding and damage to roads”.
Blackouts and flooding
Thousands of properties remained without power, while hundreds were without water, authorities said on Sunday.
Air New Zealand said its international flights in and out of Auckland would resume from noon on Sunday (local time).
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, less than a week in office, flew by helicopter over Auckland before touring flood-hit homes.
New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins, centre, talks to flood-hit Auckland residents. Photo: AAP
In nearby Bay of Plenty there was also “widespread flooding”, police said, as well as a landslide that had knocked down a house and was threatening neighbouring properties.
“Police are asking those in areas experiencing severe weather to … not attempt to travel on the roads, many of which are currently undriveable,” Mr Hipkins said.
He described the flood impact in the city as “unprecedented” in recent memory.
More than 2000 calls for assistance and 70 evacuations were recorded around Auckland due to the inundation, the New Zealand Herald reported on Saturday.
-with AAP
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