News

New Zealand weather: Four dead after record rainfall causes flooding and landslides | World News


Four people were killed as torrential rain continued to lash New Zealand’s largest city, triggering flash floods and landslides.

Auckland and much of the northern island remain in a state of emergency, following record rainfall since Friday and more severe weather forecasts for the coming days.

Flooding has flooded homes, closed roads and led to train derailments.

Authorities say thousands of homes are still without electricity, while hundreds have no running water.

Videos posted online show chest-deep water in some places.

Auckland Emergency Management Controller Rachel Kelleher said: “We are aware that there is a possibility of more adverse weather this evening.”

deputy prime minister of New Zealand Carmel Sepuloni said: “The most terrible thing is that we lost our lives.”

Police said they found one man’s body in a flooded sewer and another in a flooded parking lot.

They said fire and emergency crews had found a third body after a landslide toppled a house in Remuera. a suburb of Auckland.

Another person who was initially reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters has been confirmed dead.

Read more:
Flooding in Auckland brings major disruption – and Elton John’s show is cut minutes before kick-off
Who is Chris Hipkins, who replaces Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister?

While, Chris Hipkinswho became prime minister less than a week later Jacinda Ardern resignsflew to Auckland by military plane before boarding a helicopter to survey the damage.

Mr Hipkins, who has visited homes affected by the floods, said: “Our priority is to make sure that Aucklanders are safe, they have a place to stay and they have access to services. essentials they need”.

He added: “This is an event unprecedented in recent memory.”

Air New Zealand has now resumed both international and domestic flights in and out of Auckland after the airport was forced to temporarily close last week.

Vehicles are trapped by floodwaters in Auckland, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Record rainfall has hit New Zealand's largest city, causing widespread disruption.  (Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP)
Picture:
Photo: AP

‘This is climate change’

Climate change has led to heavier and more widespread rains in New Zealand, as highlighted by the county’s environment minister James Shaw when he tweeted in support of those affected by the floods.

“This is climate change,” he wrote.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure that the New Zealand we leave our children in is safe and livable.”

According to forecasters, Friday was the wettest day on record in Auckland, as the amount of rain that normally falls all summer was achieved in one day.

More than six inches of rain fell in just three hours in some places.

The weather caused Sir Elton John to cancel his concert just before it started on Friday night.

Sir Elton’s second concert that had been scheduled at the Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday night has also been cancelled.

Fans leave the Mt Smart Stadium after Elton John's concert was cancelled.  (Julea Dalley/New Zealand Herald via AP)
Picture:
Fans leave the Mt Smart Stadium after Elton John’s concert was cancelled. (Julea Dalley/New Zealand Herald via AP)

Criticized for being slow to declare a state of emergency

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown defended criticism that his office had failed to properly communicate the seriousness of the situation and delayed declaring the state of emergency until around 9.30pm on Friday.

He said the timing of the declaration of the state of emergency was guided by experts.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button