New Zealand declared a state of emergency in Otorohanga on Saturday (14 February) after torrential rain caused severe flooding, power outages and evacuations.
A man was found dead in a submerged vehicle, as forecasters warned the storm would intensify and threaten Wellington and other parts of the North Island.
Authorities said the man’s body was discovered inside a vehicle trapped on a flooded highway after heavy rain pounded the agricultural district, about 180 km south of Auckland, overnight. His name has not been released.
Otorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow described the situation as devastating, saying the community was focused on supporting affected residents and emergency crews.
“Right now, our focus is on supporting those affected by the widespread flooding, as well as the emergency workers and support agencies who are also helping,” he told a news conference.
Rain began falling around 2 pm local time on Friday (13 February) but intensified sharply through the evening.
Up to 300mm was recorded in roughly an hour, overwhelming a pumping system designed to prevent flooding. Mayor Dow described the sudden deluge as “a weather bomb”.
Around 80 people had been evacuated by Saturday, with authorities setting up an emergency centre in a local church. Residents who were not ordered to leave were advised to remain indoors and avoid floodwaters as officials began assessing what was described as extensive damage.
New Zealand’s MetService warned the weather system was expected to strengthen, bringing heavy rain, winds of up to 120km/h and waves reaching seven metres from Sunday.
A severe weather warning covers parts of the North Island’s east coast, from the Coromandel Peninsula to the Bay of Plenty, and includes the capital Wellington.
Images shared on social media showed semi-rural neighbourhoods submerged, sections of collapsed roadway and debris-laden bridges after floodwaters receded, underscoring the scale of the destruction as communities brace for further impact.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad sayin...
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port o...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday to discuss air defences for Ukraine over winter.
Mexico and the U.S. are racing to secure a trade deal before the U.S. midterm elections in less than eight weeks, according to six sources familiar with the talks, with failed negotiations between Washington and Canada adding urgency.
A Russian strike on a gas station in Kyiv has killed two people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement on Telegram. In Russia, online marketplace Ozon has suspended operations in Saratov, southwestern Russia, following a drone strike on a warehouse in the region.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify with Ireland, remarks made during a visit to Dublin that drew a sharp response from pro-British unionists in Northern Ireland.
BRICS leaders have called for maximum restraint over the war in the Middle East, warning against actions that could further worsen tensions as the United States and Iran resume strikes against each other.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment