13 persons are nonetheless unaccounted for since Cyclone Gabrielle battered New Zealand, authorities say, as extra heavy rain prompts evacuations on the nation’s North Island.
Gabrielle struck New Zealand on February 12, inflicting widespread devastation throughout the North Island, leaving at the very least 11 folks lifeless and displacing hundreds.
Greater than 6000 folks have been uncontactable following the cyclone as communications have been knocked out in lots of areas – a quantity that has receded amid restoration efforts.
“Getting in contact with these remaining 13 stays a precedence for police and we’re working as quick as we will,” New Zealand police mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
In Hawke’s Bay, one of many areas worst hit by Gabrielle, heavy rains in a single day introduced a renewed flood threat to the area on Saturday, with an evacuation order in place.
Properties within the Esk Valley had “been unoccupied for the reason that cyclone, however a further 26 households have been evacuated yesterday”, Hawke’s Bay Emergency Administration Group mentioned on Saturday.
About 680 kilometers north, within the city of Mangawhai in Northland, greater than 200 folks sheltered in camps on Friday evening as landslides blocked roads, Radio New Zealand reported.
The wild climate additionally triggered flash floods and evacuation warnings in and round Auckland, the nation’s largest metropolis with a inhabitants of about 1.6 million.
New Zealand climate forecaster MetService mentioned among the heaviest rain was recorded in Auckland, with 155mm falls prior to now 24 hours.
The forecaster had a heavy rain warning in place on Saturday for giant swaths of the North Island’s east coast, together with Hawke’s Bay.
“Heavy rain might trigger streams and rivers to rise quickly. Floor flooding and slips are additionally attainable and driving circumstances could also be hazardous,” it mentioned.
MetService mentioned it was additionally “intently monitoring” a tropical low close to Fiji that might flip right into a tropical cyclone subsequent week.
-AAP
