New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle causes flooding, landslides

New Zealand declared a national state of emergency on Tuesday as Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides and huge ocean swells, forcing evacuations and stranding people on rooftops.

This is only the third time in the country’s history that a national emergency has been declared — the other two were the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks and the 2020 Covid pandemic, Reuters reported.

The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local State of Emergency: Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawkes Bay, read the New Zealand Government press release.

Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty signed the declaration as tens of thousands of homes were left without power following heavy rain and strong winds.

“This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island,” McAnulty said, as reported by AFP.

“It has been a big night for New Zealanders across the country, but particularly in the upper North Island … a lot of families displaced, a lot of homes without power, extensive damage done across the country,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters after the declaration.

Gabrielle is 100 km (60 miles) east of Auckland, near the east coast of the country’s North Island and is expected to move east-southeast, roughly parallel to the coast.

Flood waters and landslides have cut off many settlements across the country including some near Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

McAnulty said more rain and high winds were expected on Tuesday hampering efforts of the emergency services.

The freak weather grounded flights on Monday, but Air New Zealand have said they expect some services to resume on Tuesday afternoon.

Local media are publishing photographs and video of people sitting on top of buildings surrounded by flood water, of houses swept to the bottom of hills by landslides and of roads under water.