Severe winds and rain lash New Zealand’s North Island, causing widespread power outages, flight cancellations and prompting states of emergency.
ISTANBUL: A wild storm battered New Zealand’s North Island, leaving tens of thousands without power and disrupting air travel.
More than 30,000 properties lost electricity after fierce winds toppled trees and power lines across the lower North Island.
Electricity provider Powerco reported around 23,000 outages on its network, with approximately 10,000 in the Wellington region alone.
Images online show flooded neighbourhoods, waterlogged homes and sections of road washed away.
The Manawatu-Whanganui region has been particularly hard hit and is now under a state of emergency.
Evacuations are underway on Lincoln Road in Masterton due to the danger of falling trees.
Wairarapa assistant commander Ian Wright warned that falling trees remain the greatest hazard.
He said shallow-rooted trees on Lincoln Road are “very, very unstable, so both roads have been closed and the people have been evacuated.”
Air New Zealand cancelled flights in and out of several major centres, including the capital, Wellington.
“Safety is paramount, and we are continuing to closely monitor conditions, with winds expected to reduce later this morning when we expect to resume services,” chief operating officer Alex Marren said.
Five districts—Manawatu, Rangitikei, Tararua, Waipa, and Otorohanga—are under states of emergency.
Wind gusts reached up to 240 kilometres per hour on the east coast of the lower North Island.
High parts of Wellington recorded gusts of up to 190 km/h.
The severe winds and heavy rain are expected to persist over the lower North Island before gradually shifting south.
