Sydney (Australia), 16 Feb. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited the town of Gisborne on Thursday, one of the hardest hit by Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island, which killed at least five people, including a child, in addition to thousands of displaced people. , isolated populations and damage.
In the day today, when storms are expected in parts of the North Island’s east coast, authorities are trying to contact isolated towns, bring water and supplies, restore communications, electrical service and road access.
“The priority is to do everything in our power to help people get through this,” Hipkins said in a statement to media in Gisborne, on the first visit to assess the devastation left by Gabrielle and provide assistance. to citizens.
“We continue to do what we can to reach these (isolated) communities and ensure that the supply chain and communication chains remain open,” the president said, highlighting the resilience of families affected by Gabrielle and by the earthquake of 5.7 which shook the north of the country last night, without causing any casualties.
Similarly, New Zealand police, who reduced the toll of the disaster from four to five on Thursday, are working against time to locate some 1,400 missing people, particularly in the Hawke’s Bay region, south of Gisborne.
Meanwhile, residents of parts of the North Island, including Hawke’s Bay, began clean-up tasks today as water levels begin to drop, while two Navy ships are expected to arrive on the east coast with thousands of liters of water, food, sanitary products, soldiers and medical personnel.
The country on Tuesday declared a national emergency in the regions and districts of Auckland, Northland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty Region, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Tararua, Napier and Hastings, and activated the level of maximum response. to an emergency.
Gabrielle – who suddenly changed course over the weekend and avoided passing through the Australian-administered Norfolk Islands – made landfall on the North Island last Sunday, although she was quickly demoted from a category 2 cyclone (out of a maximum of 5) to strong tropical storm. ECE
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