14th February, 2023
New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides, and massive ocean swells, forcing evacuations and leaving people stranded on rooftops.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated at a news conference on Tuesday that this is the third time in the country’s history that such a declaration has been made.
Hipkins told reporters that “the severity and breadth of the damage that we are seeing have not been experienced in a generation.”
“Australia and Britain had pledged support,” he added.
Thousands of people were stranded as flights were cancelled, and hundreds of thousands were left without power.
About 225,000 people were left without electricity, while dozens of supermarkets closed, with Hipkins urging New Zealanders not to panic-buy supplies.
Authorities have evacuated beach settlements and are urging still more people to leave homes as rivers continue to swell and huge surf inundates beachfront properties.
Roads are closed, mobile phone services are down, and some towns are cut off. Residents in hard-hit areas are being asked to conserve water and food due to fears of shortages.
Air New Zealand resumed some flights into and out of Auckland, but many routes remained disrupted.
Rescuers by helicopter and boat were rescuing people trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters in Hawke’s Bay, southeast of Auckland.
Hipkins said it was too early to say how many people had been displaced or injured. There have been no confirmed fatalities.
Reuters/NAN