New Zealand declares state of emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The New Zealand government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the north of the country in what authorities described as the country’s worst weather event in decades. years.

A firefighter was missing and another was rescued with serious injuries after being trapped in a landslide overnight near the country’s biggest city, Auckland, authorities said.

Auckland suffered a record storm two weeks ago that killed four people.

The national emergency declaration has enabled the government to support affected regions and provide additional resources, the government said. This is only the third declared national emergency in the country’s history.

The country received heavy rain overnight, forcing the evacuation of 2,500 people and causing widespread flooding and road closures, including the main thoroughfare between Auckland and the capital Wellington. The rains have also left isolated populations without telecommunications.

The weather improved on Tuesday as the storm moved southeast over the ocean away from New Zealand, a nation of 5 million people.

But 225,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity and evacuations continue, according to the emergency services.

The power grid had not suffered this much damage since 1988, when Cyclone Bola became one of the most destructive storms to hit New Zealand, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

Hipkins said it was not yet possible to estimate Gabrielle’s destruction from Cyclone Bola.

“Certainly the reports we’ve had indicate that this is the most extreme weather event we’ve seen in a long time,” Hipkins told reporters in Wellington. “In time we will know how it compares to Cyclone Bola.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called to offer his country’s support and assistance, Hipkins said. The Australian government has also said close neighbor New Zealand stands ready to provide support if needed, Hipkins added.

The national emergency declaration included six regions where local emergencies had previously been declared: Auckland, Northland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay.

A weather station in the Napier and Hawke’s Bay area recorded three times as much rain in one night as it usually does for the entire month of February, MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.

Hipkins noted that the military was already on the ground in the hardest hit areas of the northern North Island, helping with evacuations and ensuring deliveries of essential supplies.

“I want to acknowledge the situation New Zealanders found themselves in this morning,” Hipkins told reporters. “A lot of displaced families. Many houses without electricity. Extensive damage across the country.

“It will take us some time to figure out exactly what happened and, in due course, help with the cleanup when we get to that point,” he added.

Domestic and international flights resumed Tuesday afternoon at Auckland Airport, although delays and complications are expected over the next few days, the president warned.